BaL 20.04.19/11.01.20 - Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

09.30
Building a Library: Lucy Parham listens to and compares recordings of Schumann’s Piano Concerto.
The Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 was finished in 1845 and is Schumann’s only piano concerto. The piece has the character of a fantasy. The work is suffused with a sense of yearning and happiness; of two people in love. It seems in some ways to portray his attempt to woe and finally marry Clara, the daughter of his famous piano teacher, Friedrich Wieck. The main motif of the first movement recalls Florestan’s prison aria in Beethoven’s opera Fidelio. In Schumann’s case this possibly symbolises his struggle for personal freedom and happiness.

Available versions:-

Géza Anda, SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks, Ernest Bour
Géza Anda, Berliner Philharmoniker, Rafael Kubelik
Leif Ove Andsnes, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Mariss Jansons
Martha Argerich, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Riccardo Chailly *
Martha Argerich, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Riccardo Chailly (DVD)
Martha Argerich, CBC Symphony Orchestra, Franz-Paul Decker (DVD)
Martha Argerich, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Martha Argerich, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Kazimierz Kord
Martha Argerich, Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, Alexandre Rabinovitch-Barakovsky
Martha Argerich, National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
Martha Argerich, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Alexander Vedernikov
Claudio Arrau, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Claudio Arrau, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Christoph von Dohnanyi
Claudio Arrau, Philharmonia Orchestra, Alceo Galliera,
Claudio Arrau, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Karl Krueger
Claudio Arrau, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Rafael Kubelik
Claudio Arrau, Philharmonia Orchestra, Herbert Menges
Claudio Arrau, Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Victor de Sabata
Vladimir Ashkenazy, London Symphony Orchestra, Uri Segal
Wilhelm Backhaus, Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Böhm
Daniel Barenboim, Munich Philhamonic Orchestra, Sergiu Celibidache *
Barenboim, Münchner Philharmoniker, Sergiu Celibidache (DVD)
Daniel Barenboim, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Idil Biret, Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit
Felizitas Blumenthal, Vienna Pro Musica Orchestra, Hans Swarowsky *
Jorge Bolet, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Riccardo Chailly *
Alfred Brendel, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
Alfred Brendel, Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle
Alfred Brendel, Philharmonia Orchestra, Kurt Sanderling
Davide Cabassi, Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano and Trento, Gustav Kuhn
Shura Cherkassky , London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult *
Van Cliburn, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner
Alfred Cortot, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Landon Ronald
Sequeira Costa, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Stephen Gunzenhauser
Bella Davidovich, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Gerard Schwarz *
Pavel Egorov, St. Petersburg State Academic Capella Orchestra, Cesare Croci *
Rudolf Firku�ný, Luxembourg Radio Orchestra, Louis de Froment *
Annie Fischer, Philharmonia Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini
Annie Fischer, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, oseph Keilberth
Annie Fischer, Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Annie Fischer, North German Radio Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Woldemar Nelsson (DVD)
Annie Fischer, SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg, Hans Rosbaud
Leon Fleisher, Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell
Ingrid Fliter, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Antonio Mendez (SACD)
Samson François, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, Paul Kletzki
Justus Frantz, Wiener Philharmoniker, Leonard Bernstein
Justus Frantz, Wiener Philharmoniker, Leonard Bernstein (DVD)
Nelson Freire, Münchner Philharmoniker, Rudolf Kempe *
Paolo Giacometti, Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra, Michel Tilkin (SACD)
Walter Gieseking, Staatskapelle Dresden, Karl Böhm
Walter Gieseking, Berliner Philharmoniker, Wilhelm Furtwängler (also SACD)
Walter Gieseking, Philharmonia Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
Walter Gieseking, Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, Günter Wand *
Emil Gilels, USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Verbitsky (DVD)
Helene Grimaud, Staatskapelle Dresden, Esa-Pekka Salonen
Hélène Grimaud, Deutsches Symphony Orchestra Berlin, David Zinman
Friedrich Gulda, Wiener Philharmoniker, Volkmar Andreae *
Friedrich Gulda, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Joseph Keilberth
Ingrid Haebler, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Eliahu Inbal
Hubert Harry, Junge Philharmonie Zentralschweiz, Thüring Bräm *
Clara Haskil, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Ernest Ansermet
Clara Haskil, Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, Rafael Kubelik *
Clara Haskil, The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra, Willelm van Otterloo
Clara Haskil, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Carl Schuricht
Monique Haas, Berliner Philharmoniker Eugen Jochum
Monique Haas, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Hans Müller-Kray *
Martin Helmchen, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Marc Albrecht (SACD)
Dame Myra Hess, Studio Orchestra, Walter Goehr
Dame Myra Hess, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent
Dame Myra Hess, Philharmonia Orchestra, Rudolf Schwarz *
Angela Hewitt, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Hannu Lintu
Etsuko Hirose, Orchestre de Pau Pays du Bearn, Fayçal Karoui
Heidrun Holtmann, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stefan Soltesz *
Margarita Hohenrieder, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Luisi
Stephen Hough, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons
Margarita Hvhenrieder, Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, Johannes Wildner *

(continued in post 2)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

(continued)


Eugene Istomin, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Bruno Walter
Jeno Jandó, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Andras Ligeti
Byron Janis, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner
Byron Janis, Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Julian Von Karolyi, Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Robert Heger
Julius Katchen, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Istvan Kertesz
Peter Katin, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Eugene Goossens
Cyprien Katsaris, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Cristian Mandeal
Wilhelm Kempff , Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Ernest Ansermet
Wilhelm Kempff, Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rafael Kubelik
Matthias Kirschnereit, Jan Willem de Vriend *
Evgeny Kissin, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis *
Evgeny Kissin, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini *
Anton Kuerti, CBC Radio Orchestra, Mario Bernardi *
Alicia de Larrocha, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Alicia de Larrocha, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Charles Dutoit
Daniel Levy, Philharmonia Orchestra, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau *
Dinu Lipatti, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Ernest Ansermet
Dinu Lipatti, Philharmonia Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
Jan Lisiecki, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Antonio Pappano
Alexander Lonquich, Colibrì Ensemble
Louis Lortie, Philharmonia Orchestra, Neeme Järvi
Jean-Marc Luisada, London Symphony Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas
Benedetto Lupo, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Peter Maag *
Radu Lupu, London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn
Moura Lympany , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
Israela Margalit, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bryden *
Oleg Marshev, South Jutland Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Ziva
Alexander Meinel, Erzgebirgische Philharmonie Aue, Naoshi Takahashi
Alexander Melnikov, Freiburger Barockorchester, Pablo Heras-Casado
Janne Mertanen, Gävle Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Koivula (SACD)
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Orchestre de Paris, Daniel Barenboim *
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della RAI, Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Dimitri Mitropoulos *
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, RTSI Orchestra, Hermann Scherchen *
Tee Min, Orchestra “New Philharmony” St. Petersburg, Alexander Titov *
Ivan Moravec, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Neumann
Ivan Moravec, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Eduardo Mata *
Branka Musulin, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Karl Böhm
Yves Nat , Lamoureux Orchestra, Eugene Bigot
Yves Nat, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, Charles Munch
Guiomar Novaes, Wiener Symphoniker, Otto Klemperer
Gerhard Oppitz, Bamberger Symphoniker, Marc Andrae (SACD)
Gerhard Oppitz, NDR Sinfonieorchester, Günter Wand
Cécile Ousset, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Kurt Masur *
Sophie Pacini, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Radoslaw Szulc
Lucy Parham, BBC Concert Orchestra, Barry Wordsworth
Leonard Pennario, London Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa
Murray Perahia, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
Francesco Piemontesi, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jiri Belohlávek
Maria João Pires, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
Maria João Pires, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Eliot Gardiner (SACD)
Maurizio Pollini, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Sviatoslav Richter, USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Rudolf Barshai *
Sviatoslav Richter, Hungarian State Philharmonic Orchestra, János Ferencsik
Sviatoslav Richter, Moscow Radio Orchestra, Alexander Gauk
Sviatoslav Richter, USSR State Orchestra, George Georgescu
Sviatoslav Richter, L’Orchestre National de l’Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Lovro von Matacic
Sviatoslav Richter, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Riccardo Muti
Sviatoslav Richter, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Stanislav Wislocki
Bruno Rigutto, Orchestre National de France, Kurt Masur
Gerald Robbins, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Kenneth Klein *
Peter Rösel, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Kurt Masur
Arthur Rubinstein, Orchestra Alessandro Scarlatti di Napoli della RAI, Franco Caracciolo
Arthur Rubinstein, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini
Arthur Rubinstein, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, Josef Krips
Arthur Rubinstein (piano), RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg *
Artur Schnabel, Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Monteux *
András Schiff, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Antal Dorati
Emil von Sauer, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Willem Mengelberg
Rudolf Serkin, Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy *
Regina Shamvili, Ecuador National Symphony Orchestra, Alvaro Manzano *
Howard Shelley, Orchestra of Opera North
Solomon, Philharmonia Orchestra, Herbert Menges
Martin Stadtfeld, Hallé Orchestra, Sir Mark Elder
Andreas Staier, Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, Philippe Herreweghe
Richard Tilling, Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra
Dubravka Tomsic, Slovenian Symphony Orchestra, Anton Nanut *
Dénes Várjon, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Heinz Holliger *
Lev Vinocour, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Johannes Wildner
Lars Vogt, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle
Shai Wosner, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Lawrence Foster *
Klára Würtz, North West German Philharmonic Orchestra, Arie van Beek
Christian Zacharias, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne
Christian Zacharias, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Hans Vonk *
Krystian Zimerman, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

[visualnickmos]

Blimy!

Excellent work, as always - thanks for the list(s)

Surely nobody can come back and "But you've omitted so-and-so.....!"

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Blimy!

Excellent work, as always - thanks for the list(s)

Surely nobody can come back and "But you've omitted so-and-so.....!"

But of course they will.

[gradus]

Winner - anyone who doesn't rush through the last movement.

[pastoralguy]

Bravo on the list, sir!

One of my favourite Concertos. I always try to buy CDs of this work when I see them in charity shops so I've amassed a few now. Difficult to chose a favourite but, as always, all are very good in their own way. Pires with Abbado is a great favourite though.

I'm really looking forward to hearing Beatrice Rana record it after her fabulous performance at the Proms a couple of years ago. One day!

[Bryn]

Staier, coupled with Coin in the cello concerto, would be my first choice.

[pastoralguy]

I was very impressed by Jan Lisiecki and Antonio Pappano.

[Stanfordian]

I was very impressed by Jan Lisiecki and Antonio Pappano.

In 2015 at Dresden I heard Jan Lisiecki play in concert with Philadelphia Orchestra under Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Lisiecki was outstanding!

[Zucchini]

Blimy!

Excellent work, as always - thanks for the list(s)

Surely nobody can come back and "But you've omitted so-and-so.....!"

… but I wish they were divided into alive and dead, age when they recorded it and what they had for breakfast on that day

[Bryn]

… but I wish they were divided into alive and dead, age when they recorded it and what they had for breakfast on that day

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

… but I wish they were divided into alive and dead, age when they recorded it and what they had for breakfast on that day

Most of that would be possible.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

One hopes the shortlist won't be just the many recordings of Argerich, Arrau and Richter. Imagine trying to sort those out.

[Stanfordian]

The hair reminds me of Martha Argerich

[pastoralguy]

In 2015 at Dresden I heard Jan Lisiecki play in concert with Philadelphia Orchestra under Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Lisiecki was outstanding!

Lucky you! An outstanding musician.