Scriabin 5th sonata

[expressman70]

Could you comment on Richter's judgement of the work as the hardest in piano repertoire along with Mephisto waltz. (I btw do not consider Mephisto as one of the hardest) But could you consider it to be at least on the same level as Mephisto. I have not yet played the work, but by sound it doesnt seem as hard Richter is placing it in his spectrum.

Thanks

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Me PERSONALLY I'd say it's harder than Mephisto

[mjames]

In the piano repertoire? All of it? I would respectfully disagree. It's too short! ;3
But yes, it is extremely difficult. Personally the only ones who are allowed to say "not as hard as it sounds" about Scriabin's 5th are pianists like Sultanov. 

[quantum]

I'm not so sure about hardest in the repertoire.  There are other Scriabin sonatas that I would consider more challenging such as #7 or 8.  But this may be a personal thing: we all have pieces that we find challenging for one reason or another.  Other people may have different experiences than our own.

From personal experience, I can attest that the Scriabin 5th Sonata is much more difficult to play than it sounds. 

[expressman70]

Thank you all for giving me a great point of view. I will take that into consideration.