Schumann Piano Works
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Robert Schumann
Label: Decca
Magazine Review Date: 8/1988
Media Format: Vinyl
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 421 010-1DH

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Carnaval |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Robert Schumann, Composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, Piano |
Humoreske |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Robert Schumann, Composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, Piano |
(8) Novelletten, Movement: No. 1 in F |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Robert Schumann, Composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, Piano |
(8) Novelletten, Movement: No. 2 in D |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Robert Schumann, Composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, Piano |
Composer or Director: Robert Schumann
Label: Decca
Magazine Review Date: 8/1988
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 66
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 421 010-2DH

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Carnaval |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Robert Schumann, Composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, Piano |
Humoreske |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Robert Schumann, Composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, Piano |
(8) Novelletten, Movement: No. 1 in F |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Robert Schumann, Composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, Piano |
(8) Novelletten, Movement: No. 2 in D |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Robert Schumann, Composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, Piano |
Composer or Director: Robert Schumann
Label: Silverline
Magazine Review Date: 8/1988
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 72
Mastering:
ADD
Catalogue Number: 420 871-2PSL

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Carnaval |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Claudio Arrau, Piano Robert Schumann, Composer |
Kinderszenen |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Claudio Arrau, Piano Robert Schumann, Composer |
Waldszenen |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Claudio Arrau, Piano Robert Schumann, Composer |
Composer or Director: Robert Schumann
Label: Silverline
Magazine Review Date: 8/1988
Media Format: Cassette
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
ADD
Catalogue Number: 420 871-4PSL

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Carnaval |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Claudio Arrau, Piano Robert Schumann, Composer |
Kinderszenen |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Claudio Arrau, Piano Robert Schumann, Composer |
Waldszenen |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Claudio Arrau, Piano Robert Schumann, Composer |
Composer or Director: Robert Schumann
Label: Decca
Magazine Review Date: 8/1988
Media Format: Cassette
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 421 010-4DH

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Carnaval |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Robert Schumann, Composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, Piano |
Humoreske |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Robert Schumann, Composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, Piano |
(8) Novelletten, Movement: No. 1 in F |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Robert Schumann, Composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, Piano |
(8) Novelletten, Movement: No. 2 in D |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Robert Schumann, Composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, Piano |
Author: James Methuen-Campbell
Arrau's 22-year-old recording has a rather bass orientated sound, but at least he knows how to produce a proper forte tone. His approach to tempo is far more flexible than Ashkenazy's, although his outlook is somewhat sober. Nevertheless, at the return of the ''Valse allemande'' after ''Paganini'' he manages a wonderful lightness and humour. Arrau's version of Kinderszenen is better recorded than Carnaval and he plays the music with great restraint and purity. Occasionally I felt his large tone was a bit much for the scale of the pieces, but then he compensates for this in his depth of insight into Schumann's poetry, as in his very slow playing of ''Traumerei''. Although some of the ideas in the Waldscenen seem unnecessarily underlined, Arrau is always able to convey the essence of each piece. The hearty ''Jagdlied'' is splendidly forthright.
I do not dislike Ashkenazy's style of playing, and I found plenty to admire in his new recording of Humoreske. Perhaps it does not approach either the versions by Richter (nla) or Feinberg (nla) in terms of imagination, but still Ashkenazy conveys a feeling for structure. Surprisingly, the performance is not top-notch technically: the second episode sounds a little unprepared and in the section marked Einfact und zart he not only splits the left-sixths, but also simplifies the fast semiquaver section, in which he still manages an untidy slip. However, the final episode has real atmosphere with an expressive use of tone. Perhaps the coda lacks some exhilaration though. The two Noveletten are to my mind unsatisfactory. The first is blustery and unmemorable and the second is rattled off like a study. There should be far more in the way of electricity.
For Carnaval I have no hesitation in recommending the Arrau over the Ashkenazy, but it would be good if the Rachmaninov and Cortot versions (there are three) could be remastered for CD, these are classics that should always be available. Richter's Parlophone version of Humoreske falls into the same category.'
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