Schumann, Robert (1810 - 1856)

[Nick Armstrong]

Err, Msg 7?

Err, See my PS to Msg 9 !! The curse of cross-posting!

[Pianorak]

I seem to remember you asked about the Le Sage set before with nobody replying. There are some Schumann pieces by Le Sage on YouTube, but there wasn't enough for me to make up my mind.
I do have the complete Schumann works by Joerg Demus which I absolutely love and wouldn't want to be without. However, Bryn may come in to elaborate on some of the technical shortcomings.

Ooops - just see Bryn has pronounced on the Le Sage. 'Nuff said!

Edit: link deleted as requested.

[aeolium]

There are two CDs with Margaret Price singing Schumann lieder, one of the Liederkreis op 39 and the Kerner Lieder with Graham Johnson, and another of Frauenliebe und -leben and miscellaneous songs with James Lockhart - both excellent (even though I'm more used to hearing the Liederkreis sung by a tenor).

A good budget set of the string quartets plus piano quintet is the Cherubini Quartet with Christian Zacharias.

[teamsaint]

to save requoting Caliban's long post which contained a question about which is my Favourite "Spring", as is my usual way, I only have a a couple. The Muti/PO, which is fab, and my first Schumann love, a cheapie with St Louis SO and the PC with The Orchestra of radio Luxembourg.

I love the St Louis, although no doubt I will be pointed to finer efforts elsewhere.

[Bryn]

... Ooops - just see Bryn has pronounced on the Le Sage. 'Nuff said!

I merely reported that the Le Sage recordings were highly regarded. I am getting them on trust. I too love the Demus set and simply put up with the technical problems of some of the tracks on some of the discs. Most of the recordings are at least adequate.

[I also note that alpha's own site declares that the set is temporarily out of stock "due massive number preorders". So there maybe something of a delay in delivery.]

[John Shelton]

A Schumann obsessive writes; I have Le Sage in the individual issues + the chamber music.

I can't think anyone would regret acquiring the set.

(Some of the earlier recordings were made for RCA and Alpha have taken them over. This isn't a problem, though).

[kernelbogey]

I loved the symphonies from my first hearings - an LP of 1 & 4 purchased early.

I'm fond of the Piano Quintet and of the story that (on either the first or second performance), Clara became ill and Mendelssohn sight-read the piano part.

[teamsaint]

I loved the symphonies from my first hearings - an LP of 1 & 4 purchased early.

I'm fond of the Piano Quintet and of the story that (on either the first or second performance), Clara became ill and Mendelssohn sight-read the piano part.

The piano quartet(composed at the same time?) is wonderful too. the slow movement of the quintet makes me think of The Smiths, oddly !

[Bryn]

Thanks for linking to this forthcoming release of the boxed set of these highly regarded recordings. Duly ordered.

Just a little warning to others. Unless you want to make, um, "Matt" a Christmas present of the set, be careful which address you choose if accessing the amazon.co.uk's site via the link kindly provided by Madame Suggia.

Oh, and just a little warning to Madame Suggia, when you post such a link, it ties into your amazon.co.uk account information, and the delivery address defaults to your principal one, though only part of it is visible to those who access the link your post.

[Roslynmuse]

Let me put in a word for the Scenes from Goethe's Faust - an absolutely marvellous piece - in Harnoncourt's recording with Christian Gerhaher.

And (staying with Goethe settings) - his Wilhelm Meister songs are at least the equal of those by Schubert and Wolf in depth - Schumann seems to be able to enter into twilit worlds of fantasy like no other composer.

[Madame Suggia]

Just a little warning to others. Unless you want to make, um, "Matt" a Christmas present of the set, be careful which address you choose if accessing the amazon.co.uk's site via the link kindly provided by Madame Suggia.

Oh, and just a little warning to Madame Suggia, when you post such a link, it ties into your amazon.co.uk account information, and the delivery address defaults to your principal one, though only part of it is visible to those who access the link you post.

Oh Goodness! Thanks for letting me know Bryn!

[EdgeleyRob]

I wouldn't want to be without the Wilhelm Kempff piano box and the Beaux Arts piano trios.

[Petrushka]

My very first Schumann disc was an LP of Furtwangler and the VPO in a live 1951 performance of the 'Spring' Symphony. I later purchased a Decca Eclipse coupling of 1 & 4 with Josef Krips and the LSO which I think are now on Eloquence. And there things stood for many years Schumann-wise until I got the Sawallisch set of the symphonies. However, the sound is really not up to the task and I've now got both of Kubelik's sets as well as Chailly's.

The rest of his output (apart from the PC) is something of a closed book, I'm afraid but in time maybe...

[John Shelton]

If you enjoy 'period' instruments (as I do) Daniel Sepec / Andreas Staier's recital is admirable

Bach, J S: Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV1004: Chaconne transcribed by Schumann (Quite fascinating)

Schumann: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor, Op. 105
Violin Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 121
Gesänge der Frühe (5), Op. 133

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Harmonia%2BMundi/HMC902048

[gurnemanz]

And (staying with Goethe settings) - his Wilhelm Meister songs are at least the equal of those by Schubert and Wolf in depth - Schumann seems to be able to enter into twilit worlds of fantasy like no other composer.

I agree. Christine Schäfer is very good.
I love Nathalie Stutzmann's mellow-voiced Maria Stuart Lieder + complete Myrthen.
Fischer Dieskau in the Kerner Lieder - He does a lovely Stirb, Lieb' und Freud'
Schreier/Schiff - Liederkreis Op.24 & 39, Dichterliebe Op.48 (2002 Orfeo)
Janet Baker Frauenliebe
Piano Quintet
Benedetti Michelangeli Carnaval which has accompanied me around for about 40 years

.. + quite a lot more