Piano Sonata No. 8 in B flat, Op. 84

Richter Plays Prokofiev: The War Sonatas: Piano Sonata No 6 in A, Op. 82 / Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat, Op. 83 / Piano Sonata No. 8 in B flat, Op. 84

Prokofiev, Richter
Richter Plays Prokofiev: The War Sonatas: Piano Sonata No 6 in A, Op. 82 / Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat, Op. 83 / Piano Sonata No. 8 in B flat, Op. 84
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
1. Piano Sonata No. 6 in A major ('War Sonata 1'), Op. 82: Allegro moderato
2. Piano Sonata No. 6 in A major ('War Sonata 1'), Op. 82: Allegretto
3. Piano Sonata No. 6 in A major ('War Sonata 1'), Op. 82: Tempo di valzer lentissimo
4. Piano Sonata No. 6 in A major ('War Sonata 1'), Op. 82: Vivace
5. Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat major ('War Sonata 2/Stalingrad'), Op. 83: Allegro inquieto - Andantino
6. Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat major ('War Sonata 2/Stalingrad'), Op. 83: Andante caloroso
7. Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat major ('War Sonata 2/Stalingrad'), Op. 83: Precipitato
8. Piano Sonata No. 8 in B flat major ('War Sonata 3'), Op. 84: Andante dolce
9. Piano Sonata No. 8 in B flat major ('War Sonata 3'), Op. 84: Andante sognando
10. Piano Sonata No. 8 in B flat major ('War Sonata 3'), Op. 84: Vivace

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CD Details

All Artists: Prokofiev, Richter
Title: Richter Plays Prokofiev: The War Sonatas: Piano Sonata No 6 in A, Op. 82 / Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat, Op. 83 / Piano Sonata No. 8 in B flat, Op. 84
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Russian Revelation
Release Date: 4/21/1998
Genre: Classical
Styles: Forms & Genres, Sonatas, Historical Periods, Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 182478401029, 5032636100941, 503263610094

Synopsis

Amazon.com

It's good to have Sviatoslav Richter's peerless interpretations of the three Prokofiev War Sonatas gathered in one place, if only because of the pianist's personal association with the composer. The Sixth comes closest to capturing the controlled frenzy of the pianist's 1960 Carnegie Hall reading, but the Philips version must take priority for cleaner finger work and professional engineering. Richter's 1958 studio Prokofiev Seventh (BMG) stresses the work's inherent lyricism and overlooked pianistic beauty without sacrificing energy in the outer movements; twelve years later, the pianism remains powerfully intact but is more internalized. Revelation's 1961 live Eighth Sonata flows freer and quicker than the studio version, while the sonics are murkier but less metallic on top. - -Jed Distler

CD Reviews

The War Sonatas: a legendary musical document

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 08/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a hard fan of Sviatoslav Richer. His enigmatic pianism, his technical endowment, his portentous sound, his absolute empathy each time he played a musician's score can not simulate however his erratic approach, capricious tempi and even a certain superficiality and lightness in determined composers.

His repertoire was immense but when he played Prokoviev, literally you can figure a lion on the keyboard. I have almost one hundred recordings of Richter, and if I was inquired about the composer that transformed absolutely Richter's mood in the keyboard, this was basically Segei Prokoviev.

These war Sonatas are fundamental documents for any serious collector items. Nevertheless I must underline the Eighth Sonata recorded in 1968 is far superior than this performance.

The bitter treatment, the grasping arpeggios, the cynical gaze beneath the bars and this uncertain atmosphere, the sharp phrasing, the sinister, elusive and mysterious elegance is simply a very special trademark of Richter. Nobody does it better.

The Sixth Sonata was a true battle horse for him Remember for instance his inclusion in the celebrated Recital on Carnegie Hall in the early sixties.

If I had to name about other pianist gifted of similar approach there is just one: György Sandor who recorded a superb Seventh in 1967.

Go for these golden treasures before they vanish from the market.

"

Essential Prokofiev.

Howard G Brown | Port St. Lucie, FL USA | 09/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While there may be marginally better performances of the individual sonatas, having all three on one disc performed by Prokofiev's finest interpretor is a boon to any collection. If I didn't already own this disc, I would still meet the asking price for a used copy."