Schumann, Robert (1810 - 1856)

[EdgeleyRob]

Schumannitarians ?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Schumannitarians ?

[richardfinegold]

Has any one mentioned the Kempf set on DG? My favorite versions of the Symphonic Etudes and Children's Pictures.

[amateur51]

Schumannitarians ?

[Sir Velo]

Has any one mentioned the Kempf set on DG? My favorite versions of the Symphonic Etudes and Children's Pictures.

I have some of the Kempff Schumann recordings. IIRC, he made these recordings when already a septuagenarian (nothing wrong in that per se). Of course, he is superlative in terms of tonal production and at his best in those pieces which require less prestidigitation and more in terms of reflection (i.e. Eusebius). However, he is somewhat pedestrian where more athleticism is called for (i.e.Florestan). This leads to most of the character pieces being somewhat variable.

[Pianorak]

Any views on Florian Uhlig recording the complete Schumann? First four volumes are now out.

http://www.europadisc.co.uk/classical/107378/Schumann_in_Vienna.htm

[gradus]

Haven't heard Uhlig but his absolutely complete Schumann set will apparently be the first. Perhaps CDR will oblige?
Off-topic, I was intrigued by this: http://www.europadisc.co.uk/classica...ompared’.htm

[Pianorak]

Haven't heard Uhlig but his absolutely complete Schumann set will apparently be the first. Perhaps CDR will oblige?
Off-topic, I was intrigued by this: http://www.europadisc.co.uk/classica...ompared’.htm

Interesting! While I loved the Sonatine/Erard, I found the Ondine/Erard almost unlistenable. However, the Toccata sounds so much more "alive" on the Erard! I think I might have to get this. My poor credit card!

BTW. thanks for the Roland Barthes article which in a way raises more questions than it answers.

[Flay]

Schumannitarians ?

Or simply Schumannists?

[richardfinegold]

I have some of the Kempff Schumann recordings. IIRC, he made these recordings when already a septuagenarian (nothing wrong in that per se). Of course, he is superlative in terms of tonal production and at his best in those pieces which require less prestidigitation and more in terms of reflection (i.e. Eusebius). However, he is somewhat pedestrian where more athleticism is called for (i.e.Florestan). This leads to most of the character pieces being somewhat variable.

Kempff's techniques gets adversely critiqued frequently, and this includes recordings he made when he was much younger. Still, he has his fans, including yours truly. I have another recording of the Symphonic Etudes by Marc Andre Hamelin, whose technique is second to none, but I never play it. When I want to hear this piece it is Kempff that I reach for, because he seems to be animating the music from within, as opposed to commenting upon from a distance.

[EdgeleyRob]

Has any one mentioned the Kempf set on DG? My favorite versions of the Symphonic Etudes and Children's Pictures.

I have that DG box.
Seems to get a bad press,not sure why.

[Pianorak]

. . .I have another recording of the Symphonic Etudes by Marc Andre Hamelin, whose technique is second to none, but I never play it. . .

Seems I'm not the only one. I heard him quite a few years ago now at Wigmore Hall when he played Schumann a.o. His playing was so run of the mill and routine that I no longer remember what he actually played. And yet he is superb in Albeniz, Alkan, Medtner, Ornstein, Kapustin et al. Very strange.

[jayne lee wilson]

I'm not a huge Schumann pianorak, Pianorak, but have you heard Sofronitsky in Op.13 (or other Schumann, on Denon/Vista Vera)? Sounds stunning to me, a true kindred-spiritual marriage of performer/composer.

[verismissimo]

If there's a fire, but I can save two records from my whole collection, they would be Furtwangler's Schumann 4 and Richter in the Op 12 Fantasiestucke and Waldscenen.

[Pianorak]

I'm not a huge Schumann pianorak, Pianorak, but have you heard Sofronitsky in Op.13 (or other Schumann, on Denon/Vista Vera)? Sounds stunning to me, a true kindred-spiritual marriage of performer/composer.

Er - got some of his Liszt, Rachmaninov, Chopin, Scriabin, Prokofiev and Borodin - but no Schumann, which obviously will have to be rectified forthwith! Sofronitsky was held in the highest esteem by Richter, Gilels and Neuhaus. When S called R a genius, R called S a God. Sofronitsky's Chopin Mazurkas are also what you call "a true kindred-spiritual marriage of performer/composer".