Schumann's Shoebox

[The new erato]

You may enjoy Reinbart de Leeuw's creative reworkings of Dichterliebe and Schubert songs, sung on a CD by Barbara Sukowa. The CD's called Im wunderschönen Monat Mai. He uses an orchestra.

I've heard them do it live a few years ago. It was stunning.

[Mandryka]

Now listening to Elisso Wirssaladze.  Love especially the 1st piano sonata, and the Waldszenen.

Piano Sonata in F sharp minor, Op. 11  (she makes that Scherzo really dance!)
Piano Sonata in G minor, Op. 22
Waldszenen, Op. 82

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I can't think of a better Waldszenen. She recorded op 11 a second time on Live Classics, one of them was much better than the other but I can't remember which one. If you start to explore op 22, the one person who made sense of it for me is Sokolov in Heidelberg a couple of years ago. That recording seems to have disappeared without trace. I'll put it on symphonyshare if you want.

I would say Virssaladze and Sokolov are the two most exciting active Schumannists -- and maybe Vorraber, I'm unsure about him. Schliessmann seems to have stopped performing. Try to hear Virssaladze's Kreisleriana and Etudes (I'm not sure if the Etudes have been released.) I've just noticed that I've got a record of her playing Carnival which I've never heard -- from a concert in 2011. I'll have to play it soon.

Op 11, Noveletten and DBT are the keyboard pieces I like the most. I think.

[Brahmsian]

I can't think of a better Waldszenen.

It is very beautiful! 

Now listening to:

Fantasy in C, Op. 17
Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op. 26
Papillons, Op. 2

Richter

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Like I mentioned before on the Schumann solo piano thread, one of my favourite single CDs of any solo piano music. 

[Brahmsian]

Almost a monthly ritual, listening to this set!  I find lately, that I play the final movement of the 4th symphony on repeat, so uplifting! 

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[Bogey]

Mickey Mouse playing Schumann....and some Rossini.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyjC_XBH3UY

[Sammy]

I can't think of a better Waldszenen.

I'm with you.  My three favorite versions come from Elisso, Richter (DG) and Arrau.

[Mandryka]

I'm with you.  My three favorite versions come from Elisso, Richter (DG) and Arrau.

One I was listening to recently was Zhukov's on youtube, though it doesn't seem as special to me as his  Fantasie LP

http://www.youtube.com/v/nCZBpqhOlr0

I haven't heard Arrau's, but I'll play it today now that you mentioned it.

Since I'm on a Schumann thread I'll just report that I've been listening to an extraordinary Kreisleriana played by Pletnev, unpublished, good sound, from a concert in London in 2006. I don't know how I got it but it deserves to be more widely known - if anyone wants it just PM me and I'll upload the files.

[Brahmsian]

Schumann-athon 

First, earlier this AM:

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Now:

Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Bolet, piano

Chailly
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129

Harrell, cello

Marriner
The Cleveland Orchestra

Introduction and Allegro Appassionato in G major, Op. 92

Schiff, piano

Dohnanyi
Vienna Philharmonic

Decca

[Madiel]

Very orchestral of you!

How is the Zinman? I don't have Schumann's symphonies, and they're on the shopping list.  I have Zinman's Beethoven and it strikes me that he might be well suited to Schumann's allegedly thick orchestral scoring.

[Brahmsian]

Very orchestral of you!

How is the Zinman? I don't have Schumann's symphonies, and they're on the shopping list.  I have Zinman's Beethoven and it strikes me that he might be well suited to Schumann's allegedly thick orchestral scoring.

I really enjoy the Zinman/Tonhall recordings.  Very 'oft listened to.

Now I'm on to the chamber music:

Piano Quintet, Piano Quartet and the magnificent 3 Piano Trios (Beaux Arts)

[Cato]

Very orchestral of you!

How is the Zinman? I don't have Schumann's symphonies, and they're on the shopping list.  I have Zinman's Beethoven and it strikes me that he might be well suited to Schumann's allegedly thick orchestral scoring.

George Szell did not buy that opinion much at all: his recordings of the symphonies are legendary.

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[Brahmsian]

George Szell did not buy that opinion much at all: his recordings of the symphonies are legendary.

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Oh gosh.  There are still so many Schumann works I've never heard before, including the Manfred Overture! 

[Cato]

Oh gosh.  There are still so many Schumann works I've never heard before, including the Manfred Overture! 

It's a great one!  One of his top efforts!

[kishnevi]

Very orchestral of you!

How is the Zinman? I don't have Schumann's symphonies, and they're on the shopping list.  I have Zinman's Beethoven and it strikes me that he might be well suited to Schumann's allegedly thick orchestral scoring.

Haven't heard the Szell.  Personal preference is for Kubelik and Karajan well ahead of Zinman.

[madaboutmahler]

Does anyone know these?
http://www.youtube.com/v/NgirHgVpJCY
6 etudes in the form of a canon.. transcribed by Debussy for 4 hands.

Playing them at academy, they really are gorgeous gems.

[Brahmsian]

Sunday Schumann Symphonies from these terrific performances! 

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[North Star]

Does anyone know these?
6 etudes in the form of a canon.. transcribed by Debussy for 4 hands.

Playing them at academy, they really are gorgeous gems.

Wonderful work, on this splendid disc:
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[Lisztianwagner]

Sunday Schumann Symphonies from these terrific performances! 

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Agreed, wonderful recordings by Zinman!

[Madiel]

Today's random Schumann question: does anyone know of complete recordings of the song collection Myrthen, op.25?

I know of one for certain, which is on Hyperion with Ian Bostridge and Dorothea Roschmann singing and Graham Johnson accompanying.  But I'm curious to know if there are any others. It seems that selections are far more common than a complete recording, probably because it isn't easy for a single voice to cover all the songs.

EDIT: It looks like there's a second one on Naxos, with Andrea Lauren Brown, Thomas E. Bauer and Uta Hielscher.

[mc ukrneal]

Today's random Schumann question: does anyone know of complete recordings of the song collection Myrthen, op.25?

I know of one for certain, which is on Hyperion with Ian Bostridge and Dorothea Roschmann singing and Graham Johnson accompanying.  But I'm curious to know if there are any others. It seems that selections are far more common than a complete recording, probably because it isn't easy for a single voice to cover all the songs.

EDIT: It looks like there's a second one on Naxos, with Andrea Lauren Brown, Thomas E. Bauer and Uta Hielscher.

There are at least two others: Warner/Erato with Nathalie Stutzmann, Chandos with Lynne Dawson and Ian Partridge. I have not heard either of them.