BaL 31.05.14 - Schumann: Kreisleriana

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30am Building a Library
Kenneth Hamilton recommends a version from the available recordings of Schumann's dramatic piano piece, Kreisleriana, one of his finest works, kaleidoscopic in character with multiple contrasting sections.

Available versions:-

Joaquin Achucarro
Geza Anda (3 versions)
Martha Argerich
Claudio Arrau
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Paul Berkowitz
Peter Bradley-Fulgoni
Alfred Brendel
Shura Cherkassky
Imogen Cooper
Alfred Cortot (download)
Jorg Demus
Youri Egorov
Michael Endres
Till Fellner
Annie Fischer
Maria Gambaryan
Michael Gees
Walter Gieseking (2 versions)
Katrine Gislinge
Helene Grimaud
Susanne Grutzmann
Claire-Marie Le Guay (download)
Paul Gulda
Hideyo Harada
Vladimir Horowitz (DG & Sony)
Konstantin Igumnov
Jena Jando
Martin Kasik
Wilhelm Kempff
Evgeni Koroliov
Michael Korstick
Evgeny Kissin
Anton Kuerti (download)
Konstantin Lapshin
Alicia de Larrocha
Hyekyung Lee
Bruce Levingston
Alexander Lonquich (1838 version)
Radu Lupu
Leon McCawley
Ana-Marija Markinova
Jean-Pierre Marty
Benno Moiseiwitsch
Ives Nat
Pavel Nersessian
Heinrich Neuhaus
Alexandra Neumann
Murray Perahia
Vlado Perlemuter
Adolf Pla
Mourizio Pollini
Vassily Primakov
Wu Qian
Jerome Rose
Poul Rosenbaum (download)
Eric Le Sage
Andras Schiff
Andras Schiff (DVD)
Annerose Schmidt
Herbert Schuch
Rudolf Serkin
Niklas Sivelov
Sigurd Slattebrekk
Vladimir Sofronitsky
Pietro Spada
Mark Swartzenruber
Claudius Tanski
Ilona Timchenko
Mitsuko Uchida
Dina Ugorgska
Anika Vavic
Elisso Virsaladze (DVD)
Lars Vogt
Alexei Volodin
Mikhail Voskesensky
Klara Wurtz

[amateur51]

Oh bliss! Oh joy! Kenneth Hamilton's in charge!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Kreisleriana is something that I associate with humiliation. when I was in my last year at school, I learnt one of the movements, and felt confident I was the best pianist in the school, being the only one to have passed Grade 8 a t the time. A lad who was two years younger heard me play it and promptly learnt it himself within a couple of weeks. I was mortified, but worse was to follow. Within the next few months, he had learnt the complete work.

[Nick Armstrong]

Yup that's my kind of BAL!

Cracking list, Alpie!! Thanks, as ever!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Yup that's my kind of BAL!

Cracking list, Alpie!! Thanks, as ever!

Lists of pianists are easy. It's concerto recordings that are a nightmare, with soloist, orchestra and conductor to sort out.

[verismissimo]

Oh bliss! Oh joy! Kenneth Hamilton's in charge!

Yep!

I have three versions, all on LP, none making it to Alpie's fine list. Clara Schumann's pupil Adelina de Lara, Artur Rubinstein and Karl Engel.

[Zucchini]

Biss

[LeMartinPecheur]

I have a soft spot for the LP from which I learned the work, an HMV Melodiya by Victoria Postnikova. Its coupling was a very educative selection of studies, one each by Chopin, Liszt, Debussy and Rachmaninov. It's well overdue for a re-spin - anyone else recall it?

Of my six other recordings all but one are in EA's list, the exception being Fou Ts'ong on a Carlton twofer..

[Don Petter]

D'Alberto and Rubinstein are showing as still available on Amazon UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schumann-Kreisleriana-Michel-Dalberto/dp/B00000E6T1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000031WBW/ref=dm_ws_ps_cdp?ie=UTF8&s=music

[richardfinegold]

Heroic list, Alpie.
I learned this from a Peter Frankl recording on Vox, not on the list. I don't remember when I last heard that. I think that I also have Rubinstein which has been mentioned but also didn't make the cut. When I want to listen to the piece I turn to Kempff, and occasionally to Argerich

[BBMmk2]

Great can't wait for this! There have been a number of good BaL's lately! Is there an unde4rcover boarder member on these hereabouts? :)

Canadian Brass have recorded this too!

[Nick Armstrong]

Great can't wait for this! There have been a number of good BaL's lately! Is there an unde4rcover boarder member on these hereabouts? :)

On the contrary, Bbm, for me it's the first interesting one for a month!!

[Don Petter]

On the contrary, Bbm, for me it's the first interesting one for a month!!

Well, probably me too, but we mustn't be selfish, there is a wide spectrum of musical taste.

In any case, small crumbs of interest for the individual from the present regime must be gathered in upturned lips and fully savoured.

[Nick Armstrong]

Well, probably me too, but we mustn't be selfish, there is a wide spectrum of musical taste.

In any case, small crumbs of interest for the individual from the present regime must be gathered in upturned lips and fully savoured.

True, o wise one, true.

The Tchaik Piano Concerto one was Quite Interesting... ....(Precisely one week from this moment, I shall be sitting listening to it live!)

[Don Petter]

True, o wise one, true.

The Tchaik Piano Concerto one was Quite Interesting... ....(Precisely one week from this moment, I shall be sitting listening to it live!)

I always try to listen live, but sometimes I have been known to fall asleep.