Piano Variations Opp.34, 76, 35 / 3 Noveletten

"To Regis we owe the reinstatement of the studio recordings the pianist made for Ariola Eurodisc around 1970. We have already had Bach, Chopin and Schumann - all reviewed by me with the utmost enthusiasm - now it is the turn of Beethoven. As on other occasions, they have filled up the CD - the original LP was somewhat meagre in timing even for those days - with some live performances recorded in Japan, though in all truth even the Beethoven variations alone would have been worth far more than the asking price."
(MusicWeb Feb 2006)

(Beethoven) "There is such richness in the Beethoven variations that it seems pointless and unfair to highlight any one in particular. The D major set uses the Ruins of Athens theme. It is pretty uproarious, with Richter conveying a terrific sense of fun. The Eroica Variations has its light moments as well.....the fugue finale, very much faster than normal, is so extraordinarily exhilarating that it ends the work in triumph, with Richter playing most pianists under the table."

(Schumann) "Sheer unassailable authority of sound is perhaps the first striking thing about the... Novelettes; next is the extraordinary penetration into the secret corners of these crypto-narrative structures...loud bravo at the end is annoying but understandable."

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