Schumann's Shoebox

Started by aquablob, April 07, 2007, 08:11:59 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.

Maciek

I love his symphonies and the chamber music (Schumann's Piano Quintet is perhaps my favorite piece in that genre).

SonicMan46

Quote from: bhodges on April 07, 2007, 08:52:27 AM
I really need to hear these, since I am inclined to like HIP readings in general (and like Gardiner's work), and I like all four symphonies.  Most of the versions I've heard, including Alan Gilbert and the NY Philharmonic in the Third Symphony last week, are more pumped up, but I can well imagine that they'd be effective done much leaner.

Bruce - I'll certainly second Gurn's opinion on the Gardiner set (shown below) - just outstanding and revelatory w/ the orchestration used; however, a full price offering (although I 'lucked out' on the BGM club); another recommendation for those on a budget is the Zinman set ($11 at Amazon) - for those interested, click on the images for comments (the Zinman received a superlative review from our own Scott Morrison); own & enjoy both sets.   :D

 

Drasko

#22
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 07, 2007, 08:51:00 AM
Rec, please. A Schumann specialist says Philadelphia / Ormandy  Rudolf Serkin, which is probably the way I'll go. I have CO of Europe / Harnoncourt Argerich and surprisingly I don't care for it, it hasn't sold the piece to me yet... :(

8)

Gilels/LSO/Bohm, check with our redoubtable Lilas on this

bhodges

Quote from: SonicMan on April 07, 2007, 11:08:32 AM
Bruce - I'll certainly second Gurn's opinion on the Gardiner set (shown below) - just outstanding and revelatory w/ the orchestration used; however, a full price offering

No problem with "full price" -- that's why we're lucky to live near (link follows) Academy Records!  :D

--Bruce

knight66

A great favourite of mine is his song cycle Fraunliebe und Leben, A Woman's Life. Feminists now berate the assumption that the woman sees herself very much in connection with the man she loves. That relationship provides her with her identity and purpose. The progress of the cycle is through love, marriage and widowhood.

Taken on its own terms as the journey of one woman as against an expected journey of all womankind, it can be exceptionally moving. It is packed with melody and great singers can make a three dimensional character from the songs. The numb and numbing ending to the cycle with the beautiful piano postlude is a masterstroke.

Mike
DavidW: Yeah Mike doesn't get angry, he gets even.
I wasted time: and time wasted me.

Novi

Schumann's solo piano works are probably my favourite after Beethoven's.

In particular, I like Richter's Symphonic Etudes - wow, what energy! I love how there's everything in these Etudes - dreaminess, exuberance, whimsy, gravity, feverishness.

My other favourite is the Fantasiestücke. I used to really like Argerich in this, but recently have felt her reading to be somewhat unsatisfying. For example, I've always found her 'Aufschwung' to be particularly thrilling, but the more I think about it, it's less 'soaring' than a roller coaster on speed. These days, I reach for Rubinstein whenever I want to listen to this piece. 

The A minor piano concerto is also a favourite. I love the lush romanticism of it. I'm not sure that I have a favourite here, but Cortot and Moravec get played the most.

I don't know much of Schumann's chamber works except the piano quintet, so I'm keen to explore in that direction. 
Durch alle Töne tönet
Im bunten Erdentraum
Ein leiser Ton gezogen
Für den der heimlich lauschet.

Holden

Schumann is probably not a composer that one discovers as a newbie to classical music. Whether this is because there are no really famous/beautiful tunes (Traumerei excepted) like Chopin composed, or, hugely epic and famous works like the LvB 9th that everyone seems to know a little bit of, is hard to say.

However, once you kick into his unique world of tonal colour you're hooked for life.
Cheers

Holden

aquablob

Quote from: Novitiate on April 07, 2007, 01:50:08 PM
These days, I reach for Rubinstein whenever I want to listen to ['Aufschwung']. 

I second this, but favor even more his entire Op. 9.

david johnson

yesterday i got symphonies 1-4 with zinman/zurich.  i've listened to 1 - 2 a couple of times today and really like them.

dj

George

Quote from: Holden on April 07, 2007, 02:11:46 PM
Schumann is probably not a composer that one discovers as a newbie to classical music. Whether this is because there are no really famous/beautiful tunes (Traumerei excepted) like Chopin composed, or, hugely epic and famous works like the LvB 9th that everyone seems to know a little bit of, is hard to say.

However, once you kick into his unique world of tonal colour you're hooked for life.

I have had much trouble getting into Schumann, but I will continue to try.

Kresleriana and "Scenes from Childhood" clicked immediately however.  :)

PSmith08

#30
Quote from: lukeottevanger on April 07, 2007, 08:26:46 AM
Solo piano works and the lieder Gurn!  >:( These are his two main areas of activity and he excelled in both more than any other. I will not be kept quiet!! ;D

Ah. Schumann's Lieder are as fine as you could want. I am partial to the op. 24 Liederkreis (even more than the Dichterliebe, but I'll get to that in a minute). It goes without saying, though, that I view Schumann as standing no higher than second in the Lieder pantheon - second only to Schubert. That's no small feat, when you think of the composers jockeying for the spot (Beethoven, Mahler, Wagner, Strauss, Wolf, et al.). More than that, Schumann's Lieder are of such quality that he really commands the field in his age and later. When you start to factor in everything else, it begins to pile up into a pretty daunting oeuvre in terms of complexity and quality.

This, too, affords me the opportunity to shill for my favorite Lieder CD[/i]. The 2002 collaboration between András Schiff and Peter Schreier (continuing their really splendid work from the Decca Schubert recordings)  is - to my preferences - the best out there. Schreier's cerebral (or, intellectual: neither word has the wholly positive connotations I need) and Schiff's intelligent and precise accompaniment leads to just a nice disc. Schreier is probably my favorite tenor, and he certainly reminds me here - at somewhat advanced age - why. His "Ich grolle nicht" is, despite my overall preference for "Mit Myrthen und Rosen," simply wonderful. He manages to get a quiet bitterness and hurt going until the end. In other words, I like the disc.

aquablob

Quote from: George on June 24, 2007, 04:27:51 PM
I have had much trouble getting into Schumann, but I will continue to try.

Kresleriana and "Scenes from Childhood" clicked immediately however.  :)

Having trouble getting into Schumann? Please allow me to recommend the following:
http://www.amazon.com/Rubinstein-Collection-Vol-Robert-Schumann/dp/B00005427I

quintett op.57

Have you heard his Andante & Variations for 2 pianos, 2 cellos & 1 horn?
It's the third time I give this link. I'm surprised no one seems to be interested.
http://opus100.free.fr/fr/Schumann6.html

Haffner

Quote from: George on June 24, 2007, 04:27:51 PM
I have had much trouble getting into Schumann, but I will continue to try.






I'm surprised! For me, Schumann is to Beethoven what Schubert was to Mozart...in the extraordinary sense of successfully channeling your influences. I love how works like Schumann's Piano Quintet often sound so mid-era (op.59 to Quartetto Serioso) Beethoven.

quintett op.57

Quote from: Harry on April 07, 2007, 08:15:47 AM
His Symphonies, and SQ, and of course his piano music. Schumann has not composed that many things I dislike.
He is much under valued, I think, and without reason.
I agree.
I enjoy his symphonies but I'm not addicted.
I prefer his chamber and piano music.
His SQ are unfairly neglected in my opinion.

I love his 3rd piano trio and his cello concerto is a fantastic masterpiece.

Haffner

Quote from: quintett op.57 on June 25, 2007, 04:43:46 AM

I prefer his chamber and piano music.
His SQ are unfairly neglected in my opinion.

I love his 3rd piano trio and his cello concerto is a fantastic masterpiece.



I agree, Q.! Those string quartets are often fabulous, and the cello concerto is just addictive.

George

Quote from: aquariuswb on June 25, 2007, 12:48:38 AM
Having trouble getting into Schumann? Please allow me to recommend the following:
http://www.amazon.com/Rubinstein-Collection-Vol-Robert-Schumann/dp/B00005427I

I've got it. I just need to listen to it more.  ::)

Sergeant Rock

Quote from: quintett op.57 on June 25, 2007, 01:20:47 AM
Have you heard his Andante & Variations for 2 pianos, 2 cellos & 1 horn?
It's the third time I give this link. I'm surprised no one seems to be interested.

This does sounds interesting (odd combination of instruments),  I would have never guessed it was by Schumann. Do you know if there are any recordings available? I tried JPC and came up with nothing.

Sarge
the phone rings and somebody says,
"hey, they made a movie about
Mahler, you ought to go see it.
he was as f*cked-up as you are."
                               --Charles Bukowski, "Mahler"

karlhenning

Quote from: quintett op.57 on June 25, 2007, 01:20:47 AM
Have you heard his Andante & Variations for 2 pianos, 2 cellos & 1 horn?
It's the third time I give this link. I'm surprised no one seems to be interested.
http://opus100.free.fr/fr/Schumann6.html

Haven't heard it, but I agree heartily, it sounds very interesting.

Que

Quote from: quintett op.57 on June 25, 2007, 01:20:47 AM
Have you heard his Andante & Variations for 2 pianos, 2 cellos & 1 horn?
It's the third time I give this link. I'm surprised no one seems to be interested.
http://opus100.free.fr/fr/Schumann6.html

Did you find a CD with this work yet?

Q