[larki]

I love both Richter and Argerich immensely. Concerning Prokofiev:
It's hard to compare them, because their Prokofiev recordings have almost no overlap, if I am not mistaken: Argerich recorded the first and third concertos, Richter the first (1954) and fifth. Richter recorded a bunch of sonatas, Argerich as far as I know only the 7th. Richter recorded some more solo piano stuff (Visions fugitive and probably more), Argerich only the amazing toccata. If there's anything I am missing, I'd greatly appreciate to hear about it!

I REALLY love the Argerich/Dutoit CD with Prokofiev's 1st and 3rd and Bartoks 3rd concertos. I don't think she's as much in the foreground there as in her earlier recordings, and it doesn't feel to me like she's trying to show off technique. Richters 1st concerto I can hardly compare, because the sound quality is really bad. I don't particularly like Argerich's 7ths sonata, and tbh I haven't heard Richter play it, but I wouldn't be surprised if I liked his rendition better (I'm not too familiar with the sonatas...I should change that). Argerich's Toccata on the other hand is delicious, my favorite performance of this "little piece". I don't think Richter recorded it.
Too bad neither of these giants has recorded Prokofievs second piano concerto...

I guess to summarize: I like Argerich's Prokofiev better, because she plays my favorite Prokofiev pieces amazingly, while Richter hasn't recorded them.

(Please, if I'm missing any notable recordings, I'd like to know about it.)

 

[Kraps]

Both

 

[Tyson]

Richter, because he recorded far more than Argerich, and most of it is at a very high level. And while I love Argerich for her faster-louder-shinier approach, Richter is such an anachronism with his "interpreter-as-co-creator" playing. But I like that because nowadays everyone plays like Argerich, but no one really plays like Richter. A lost art....