Richter plays Beethoven, Aldeburgh 1975

Richter was in great form when he returned to the Aldeburgh Festival in 1975.  He gave an all-Beethoven recital in Blythburgh Church on June 11.  He started with the early sonata, Op 3 No 2, followed by three of Beethoven’s late Bagatelles.  The second half of the concert consisted of a performance of the Hammerklavier Sonata.  Unfortunately, Patrick Saul did not capture the whole sonata, his recording coming in on the third movement (Adagio sustenuto) and continuing with the whole of the final movement with its great fugue.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)

Track 1: Sonata Op 2 No 3 in C major

Track 2: Bagatelles Op 126, Nos 1, 4 and 6

Track 3: Sonata No 29, Op 106 in B flat major (Hammerklavier)*

* The recording of the Hammerklavier is incomplete (part of the third movement and the final movement only)

The recording was made from a relay of the concert on 11 June 1975 at Blythburgh Church.

The recording comes from the Saul Collection at Music Preserved.