Richter's Well Tempered Clavier

Oh, forgot to mention Kenneth Gilbert's recording on Archiv, a beautiful interpretation. Quite elegant and a fiery sort of poise when called to task.

Uru975: Thank you for the eBay suggestion. Is it true that the LP versions lack the weird muffled sound of the cd version? (The one I have is RCA Gold Seal.) Any idea why the cd version is so bad?

Hi Jim,
Was wondering what you were referring to so just played the first three preludes on a Richter Lp with a Melodiya label but mastered by Capitol. Then listened to the same by Glenn Gould on Columbia. Very different styles, that aside what you may be hearing is the difference is set up, microphones, and hall. Based just on sound it would be my guess, heavy on the word guess, that Gould's was in a studio and more closely miked, whereas Richter's was in a hall or stage and miked further back. My basis for this, is the decay is more noticeable in Richter's playing, but that could also be just a difference is style or manner. In the Gould it sounds tighter and closer hence a smaller space and/or more closely miked. Hope that helps have not heard any CD versions so can not relate anything concerning them.
Uru975 (aka Michael)

Thanks Michael. From what you say, it sounds like the problem may be limited to the cd version on RCA. (If the same problem was on LP, you would have noticed it as a problem, not as a difference in set-up, because everyone who listens to the cd version finds it completely unlistenable after a few minutes.)

btw: Here is a youtube video of two selections from the cd. Th excessive decay/echo is relevantly similar to what is heard on a good system. Please let me know if the LP is an improvement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRZfA5gv-dE&feature=related