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Richter - the Enigma [DVD]

Svyatoslav Richter (Actor), Bruno Monsaingeon (Director) | Rated: Exempt | Format: DVD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Actors: Svyatoslav Richter
  • Directors: Bruno Monsaingeon
  • Format: Classical, PAL
  • Language: Russian
  • Subtitles: English, French, German
  • Dubbed: French
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: Exempt
  • Studio: Warner Music Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 25 Oct 1999
  • Run Time: 154 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004CXNY
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 91,868 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

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Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

This exemplary 154-minute documentary about the great Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter includes some wonderful archive footage and a lot of worthwhile discussion of one of the more remarkable of 20th-century concert careers. Richter was an extraordinary combination of poet, mystic and superb technician, as fine in the more spiritually ruminative moments of Johann Sebastian Bach as he was in the more spectacular display pieces of Franz Liszt. He was also in an interesting place at an interesting time--able to interpret the works of Prokofiev and Shostakovich when they were freshly minted, and able to play alongside other great virtuosi like Oistrakh and Rostopovich (there is some wonderful footage here of the three of them performing the Beethoven Triple Concerto under Karajan). Richter was as fine as a soloist with great orchestras as he was as accompanist--we see him with Fischer-Dieskau in Hugo Wolf's quirky song "Der Feierreiter"--but his true love was the recital; much of his long career was taken up with an endless pilgrimage around the civic centres of Soviet Russia, spreading the word of great music. --Roz Kaveney

Product Description

Bruno Monsaingeon directs this profile of pianist Sviatoslav Richter, who died in 1997. Footage of Richter in concert combines with his own diary readings and interviews with colleagues including Glenn Gould and Arthur Rubinstein.
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Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Memories 24 Sep 2005
By A Customer
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was one of those lucky people to see Sviatoslav Richter at the Festival Hall in the 60's. I can remember the abrupt end of the concert and him walking off the stage without a glance at the audience who were ecstatic. This DVD shows him just as I remember him, warts and all. His playing is so 'out of this world' but I have really enjoyed the interview and the glimpse into his personal life. Well worth buying.
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great film about the greates musician 4 Mar 2001
By Vagif Abilov
Format:DVD
I watched this film twice (on Norwegian and Russian TV) before I realized I MUST have it. I think for anyone (not necessarily a music lover) who believes that he/she has achieved whatever possible and lacks challenges, it's worth to watch this documentary to find more inspiration. When Richter was 70, he made a six month trip through Siberia to bring the music he loved to the people who otherwise could not listen to it live. About at the same time Yamaha supplied two grand pianos at his disposal which they were bringing anywhere he wished to travel. I am very glad that our current technical achivements to record voice and face of such people. It's a pity I could not give this film 6 stars.
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17 of 21 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars SVJATOSLAV RICHTER: THE TITAN 8 Nov 2004
By alaskadoggie
Format:VHS Tape
In a few words this masterpiece lets itself describe, with honour and merit to what Richter deserves, but at the same time overloaded with superlatives for this whole concept.
I have quite a VHS-collection (between 500 and 600) of musicians (all genres), but this one beats everything: this film is "OUT OF CATEGORY" !!
The content of this VHS is about 1 of the 2 TITANS ever of the piano: Emil Gilels, whom Richter studied with at Moscow under Neuhaus, is the second one.
Concerning the film I will not spoil WHAT you will get to see and hear, but the makers of this 'movie' have well elaborated their theme. I will always be grateful to them: S. Richter is about - what is called in the European classic music world - the last Lisztian performer at the piano. Only Franz LISZT himself is in the neighbourhood when Svjatoslav Richter is touching his piano... As always with Richter his 'legato' playing (at Moscow he chose for legato, leaving 'the rest', meaning assai playing was more the style of Emil Gilels) keeps astonishing the listener. I was very pleased ànd surprised that the editors have been able to find that much rare footage: this pianist lived under Stalin and the Sovjetregime...
I have no problem to say that this VHS is A "REAL" MUST for all those who love the piano 'singing'. If you can, than also buy or listen to the triple CD that contains Richters pianowork as you can hear playing at the VHS. The experiences are not the same (different means!), but I can assure you that both are VINTAGE PRODUCTS.
P.S.: For those who are not acquainted with the word "Lisztian", it means more or less that the pianist can still perform in the style of the great virtuoso Franz Liszt was himself. Only a good dozen (Richter, Gilels, Horowitz, Michelangeli, Fischer, Arrau, Backhaus,...... Read more ›
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1.0 out of 5 stars Where are the subtitles? Don't trust the seller. 6 Jun 2010
By Amos
Format:DVD
Though the video captures the artistry of Richter through the playing of his music, and though I get a general sense of certain aspects of him as a personality, my dvd came with no english subtitles, so I have no idea what is being discussed. I can do just as well on Youtube as watching this dvd. I was led to believe I was buying a product with subtitles; it even says "with english subtitles" on the sleeve, but no such subtitles exist. I'd send it back, but with the postage to England, and the hassle involved with the seller, it isn't worth it. Maybe one day I'll sit down and watch the entire video, but right now I'm still just a little too peeved.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Meeting honesty and pure hearted musical feeling 16 May 2010
By Miguel
Format:DVD
What is there to say when you have the opportunity to "know" Richter in his own words and with complete honesty?Is there anything more to add?Of course not. Let us all share the privilege of knowing this sublime yet shy "HUMAN" being. That was in fact "SUPER HUMAN".
Buy it,don't lose the chance of the psychological travel of a life time!
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5.0 out of 5 stars An experience not to be missed 6 Sep 2009
By Dr. J. CHAJES
Format:DVD
I doubt anyone considering this film requires a recommendation, but for what it's worth: this film is magnificent.
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16 of 33 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling documentary about the great Russian pianist 30 Oct 2000
By A Customer
Format:DVD
'Richter the Enigma' is a lengthy (154-minute) TV documentary about the legendary Sviatoslav Richter (1915-97), unquestionably one of the greatest pianists of the last century - and director Bruno Monsaingeon deserves all the praise going for digging up some fascinatingly rare material.... The two parts are neatly divided into pre- and post-Stalin periods, the former dominated by historical reconstruction of the period and Richter's early life (much of the footage from this period is absolutely riveting), the latter dwelling more on internationally-acclaimed performances with such musicians as David Oistrakh, Benjamin Britten and Dietrich Fischer Dieskau. Monsaingeon admirably avoids the usual hagiographic South Bank Show approach, though this does occasionally leave one wanting more (for starters, it's not for beginners: it assumes a great deal of prior knowledge of both musical and Soviet history), and the DVD sadly fails to supply any background biographical material, or indeed any extras at all apart from a multilingual booklet (which helpfully lists all the musical excerpts and gives them chapter and time references). But it's worth buying just for the main feature.
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