Release Date: 29 August 2011
Label: ECM New Series
Packaging Type: Brilliant Case (Jewel Case size, Holds 2 CDs)
No of Units: 2
Barcode: 028947639091
Genres: Classical
Description
A decade after his highly acclaimed 'In Concert' album, master pianist András Schiff continues his documentation of Robert Schumann's music in a specially-priced 2-CD set recorded in Germany at Neumarkt's Reutstadl. The repertoire includes Papillons op. 2, the Piano Sonata No 1 in F sharp minor op. 11, Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) op. 15, the Fantasy in C major op. 17, Waldszenen (Forest Scenes) op. 82, and the Thema mit Variationen, also known as Geistervariationen. Schiff's recording presents a revelatory re-investigation of this enormously influential Romantic music.
Schiff, one of the greatest pianists of our era, traces the development of Schumann's piano music, from the early Papillons, written when Schumann was 19, all the way to the final Geistervariationen, "ghost variations" which the composer believed were dictated to him by angels. The Fantasy in C Major is heard with alternate endings: as well as the official published version, Schiff includes a preliminary one he finds more musically convincing. The pianist gives his thoughts on the matter in a very interesting note in the CD booklet which also gives background information by Wolf-Dieter Seiffert on each of the compositions.
András Schiff, born in Budapest in 1953, puts a strong focus on cyclic performances of the important piano works by the masters from Bach to Bártok. His wide-ranging discography on ECM includes works by Schumann, Schubert, Janácek, Bach, Mozart and many others. Schiff's complete Beethoven sonata cycle, performed in 15 major musical centres worldwide, was completed in April 2009. He works annually with his own chamber orchestra, the Cappella Andrea Barca, the Philharmonia and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Schiff records exclusively for ECM New Series. His many best-selling albums for the label include his acclaimed account of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations.
Personnel: András Schiff (piano)
Tracklisting
Delian Quartett
Anna Gourari, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana & Markus Poschner
Gidon Kremer, Kremerata Baltica & Vida Mikneviciute
Arvo Part
Thomas Larcher
John Holloway Ensemble
Heinz Holliger & Anton Kernjak
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra & Tonu Kaljuste
Andras Schiff
Andras Schiff
Andras Schiff
Andre Previn, Musikverein Quartet, Andras Schiff & Heinz Holliger
Andras Schiff
Andras Schiff
Andras Schiff
Andras Schiff
