Another questions for Chris about Richter

SDC Legendz Pianistz
1

I spoke with my prof something about Richter and he told me that he listened him in Athen one year before his death, so in 1996. I’m sure that he said wrong year, because according to repertoire he told me, he probably listened this concerts in 1993:

18. Athens.

J. S. Bach: Fantasia with fugue in C minor
Beethoven: Sonata in C minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique”;
Schubert: Wanderer Fantasy, D 760.

19. Athens.

Grieg: Lyric Pieces.
Recorded and released by Stradivarius.

My questions are:

  • one of Bach’s Fantasies in c minor (I don’t know correctly which one), has unfinished fugue. And Richter played finished fugue, but who finished it? (or maybe he played another fugue, I don’t know)
  • do you maybe have recordings of both recitals?

and one CG: Richter knew that this concert will be record and he started Schubert and played first wrong passage. He stopped, started to laugh, everybody in the public were laughing and then he played from the beginning and of course, he played marvellous! :smiley:

2

You’re right. That recital was in 1993. Richter retired in 1995, so a 1996 recital is a bit unlikely.

As for the Bach, I don’t think he played the finished fugue. I’d have to check my rec of him playing it to be sure.

The Lyric pieces from Athens were spliced with Lyric pieces from Kozani. Besides the Grieg, nothing else from those concerts has been released.

Based on that anecdote, I’d sure love to hear the Schubert.

I’ll post a recital from London 1993 with a similar program. It’s very decent playing for old Richter.

3

Thanks for all these informations!
This Grieg is from Double CD with Debussy Preludes, which you posted earlier, right?
Well, about this anecdote - I think that Richter did this because he wanted to be great recording, not to have wrong passage at the beginning… My prof told me that all concerts were recorded so maybe there is rec of it somewhere… maybe on Greek radio:)
Respect for future London recital!