{"product_id":"sviatoslav-richter-notebooks-and-conversations-9780691074382","title":"Sviatoslav Richter: Notebooks and Conversations","description":"\u003cp\u003eSviatoslav Richter was a dazzling performer but an intensely private man. Though world famous and revered by classical music lovers everywhere  he guarded himself and his thoughts as carefully as his talent. Fascinated  author and filmmaker Bruno Monsaingeon tried vainly for years to interview the enigmatic pianist. Richter eventually yielded  granting Monsaingeon hours of taped conversation  unlimited access to his diaries and notebooks  and  ultimately  his friendship. This book is the product of that friendship.  Richter reveals himself as a man and an artist. Unsentimentally and with his characteristic dry humor and intelligence  the musician describes his poignant childhood and spectacular career  including his tumultuous early days at the Moscow Conservatory and his triumphant 1960 tour of the United States. His laconic recounting of playing in the orchestra at Stalins surreal  interminable state funeral is riveting. Most important for music lovers  Richter discusses his influences and views on musical interpretation. He describes his encounters with other great Russian performers and composers  including Prokoviev  Shostakovich  Oistrakh  and Gilels. Candid sections from his personal journals offer his sober and unguarded impressions of dozens of performances and recordings--both his own and those of other musicians.  This volume offers readers the sizable pleasure of lingering in the thoughts and words of one of the most important pianists of the twentieth century. Unlike many other star performers  Richter was also an intellectual who had interesting things to say  particularly about the musicians proper role as interpreter of the composers art. This alone makes the book worth reading. Sviatoslav Richter belongs on the shelves of everyone with a classical music collection and will also appeal to lovers of autobiography and admirers of Russian musical culture.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45651913572405,"sku":"ByrdShop_0691074380","price":54.85,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780691074382.jpg?v=1781844984","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/sviatoslav-richter-notebooks-and-conversations-9780691074382","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}