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It seems to me you're happy with your own preferences. I wouldn't call that weird.Originally Posted by mathetes1963
But Richter & me isn't a real love story, that's all. It's been that way since I was about 13 or 14 years old, and I had my first taste of the great Bach vocal works and cantatas. Without the burden of 'knowledge' or 'purist's or scholastic opinions' I listened to the radio and borrowed vinyl LP's from the local phonothèque. I liked the performances of f.i. Leonhardt, Harnoncourt and Herreweghe very much, I was able to appreciate not-so-purists like Charles de Wolff and Fritz Werner, and I didn't like the performances by Richter. In some cases, preferences change, but apparently not in Richter's case. (Call me weird.)
I do like at least Richter's recording of Bach's Magnificat BWV 243 (coupled with BWV 140 on DG Galleria), and his recording of the Brandenburg Concertos, first half of the sixties, issued by DG/Archiv. I especially have a weak spot for the 2nd in F-Major BWV 1047. Now and then I allow myself to get blown away by that one again.
All this doesn't mean that I consider Richter as 'not done' in Bach. I think he's essential for understanding the development of 20th century Bach interpretation, and he had great influence on the next generation, even in times that 'authenticism' and 'HIP' gained their way.
In a way, I think that f.i. Helmuth Rilling is half a Richter-pupil and half a purist-pupil. But to be honest: Rilling isn't my cup of tea .... either.
But this is mainly non-organ talk and therefore a bit off-topic. I didn't listen to Bach's organ this evening & night because of the football/soccer finale of the Champion's League. But there will be more days to come.
Oh, btw, I did listen to Chorzempa late this afternoon, and I have to say that his 1983 recording of the 'Vivaldi Concertos' is quite good. It's better than two other eighties recordings that I have. On those I find him a bit too static, reticent and even slightly mannered sometimes. Funny thing is that in many cases the Vivaldi- and other transcriptions seem to bring out the best of almost every organist, even of those that I do not really favour myself.
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