"Amid all the tributes that will mark tomorrow’s centenary of the birth of Sviatoslav Richter, none will find the right adjective to go before the noun ‘pianist’. Richter was unlike any pianist before or since, so much so that the very term pianist distorts and belittles the essence of his being."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Norman Lebrecht, Not another centenary, this is the greatest musician at the piano, March 19, 2015
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sviatoslav_Richter
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Sviatoslav Richter
Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter (March 20 [O.S. March 7] 1915 – August 1, 1997) was a Soviet pianist well known for the depth of his interpretations, virtuoso technique, and vast repertoire. He is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.
21 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Sviatoslav Richter →
Related Quotes
"Since his death, Sviatoslav Richter has emerged as the Grateful Dead of classical pianists. Wherever he played tape r…"
"Great pianists often have one trait that dominates others: Sergey Rachmaninov’s left-hand thrusts, Alfred Cortot’s ru…"
"Criticism is a very personal affair-no two people can hear alike, neither can their reactions be standardized. I have…"
"Great pianists usually have one or two facets that dominate their performances in ways that beget adjectives: Horowit…"
"The interpreter is really an executant, carrying out the composer's intentions to the letter. He doesn't add anything…"
"I am not a complete idiot, but whether from weakness or laziness have no talent for thinking. I know only how to refl…"
"Richter was like a god to me. I met him in Warsaw in 1991. Because I wanted to watch him rehearsing, I literally lay …"
"My teacher was influenced by the Russian piano school. For him, Richter and Gilels were the great heroes and they bec…"
"Richter magnetized me, like he did so many others, and I wouldn't have missed his concerts for anything. I think he c…"
"Of all the pianists with whom Prokofiev worked during the Soviet period of his life, he clearly preferred Richter. On…"