The Oleg Kagan/Sviatoslav Richter all-Mozart recital, recorded live at Tours in July, 1974, came out on a 1991 EMI budget CD release, minus the G major sonata K. 379. EMI now releases the whole recital in a richer, more present remastering, coupled with the pair’s live 1976 Munich Beethoven Op. 23 and “Spring” Sonatas, which, I believe, are new to CD. Although the Kagan/Richter collaboration was in its relative infancy at the time of the Mozart recordings, the musicians are kindred spirits in their disciplined ensemble and decisive, large-scaled approach to these works. Sometimes in the outer movements Kagan’s extroversion veers toward aggression, yet he sensitively picks up on Richter’s sustained, hypnotic legato phrasing in the slow movements. That said, I marginally prefer the duo’s more refined and supple K. 306 recorded a year later and issued on Live Classics, notably for its lighter, playful Allegretto.
Those who know the duo’s exciting, volatile romp through the Beethoven Op. 24 sonata’s opening Presto via their 1975 Live Classics or Intaglio recordings will find the slower 1976 EMI version no less detailed and intense. Also note the variety of inflection throughout the “Spring” sonata’s sunny first movement (the repeated-note motive, for example), and the deliciously articulated rhythmic displacements in the little Scherzo. Peter Avis’ refreshing and informative notes top off this most welcome reissue.
