Arrau Heritage: Schumann (7 CD box set, APE)

Composer: Robert Schumann
Performer: Claudio Arrau
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 7 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Philips
Size: 2.04 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD 01
01. Variations sur le nom d’Abegg, op. 1 – Thema
02. Variations sur le nom d’Abegg, op. 1 – Var. I
03. Variations sur le nom d’Abegg, op. 1 – Var. II
04. Variations sur le nom d’Abegg, op. 1 – Var. III
05. Variations sur le nom d’Abegg, op. 1 – Cantabile
06. Variations sur le nom d’Abegg, op. 1 – Finale alla Fantasia
07. Papillons, op. 2
08. Fantaisie en ut majeur, op.17 – Il tutto fantastico ed appasionato..
09. Fantaisie en ut majeur, op.17 – Moderato con energia…
10. Fantaisie en ut majeur, op.17 – Lento sostenuo…
11. Nachst cke, op. 23 – Mehr langsam, oft zur ck haltend
12. Nachst cke, op. 23 – Markiert und lebhaft
13. Nachst cke, op. 23 – Mit grosser Lebhaftigkeit
14. Nachst cke, op. 23 – Einfach

CD 02
01. Carnaval, op.9 / Pr ambule
02. Carnaval, op.9 / Pierrot
03. Carnaval, op.9 / Arlequin
04. Carnaval, op.9 / Valse Noble
05. Carnaval, op.9 / Eusebius
06. Carnaval, op.9 / Florestan
07. Carnaval, op.9 / Coquette
08. Carnaval, op.9 / R plique
09. Carnaval, op.9 / Papillons
10. Carnaval, op.9 / A.S.C.H.-S.C.H.A. (Lettres dansantes)
11. Carnaval, op.9 / Chiarina
12. Carnaval, op.9 / Chopin
13. Carnaval, op.9 / Estrella
14. Carnaval, op.9 / Reconnaissance
15. Carnaval, op.9 / Pantalon et Colombine
16. Carnaval, op.9 / Valse allemande – Intermezzo : Paganini
17. Carnaval, op.9 / Aveu
18. Carnaval, op.9 / Promenade
19. Carnaval, op.9 / Pause
20. Carnaval, op.9 / Marche des Davidsb ndler contre les Philistins
21. Sonate N 1 en fa di se mineur, op. 11 / Introduzione
22. Sonate N 1 en fa di se mineur, op. 11 / Aria
23. Sonate N 1 en fa di se mineur, op. 11 / Scherzo
24. Sonate N 1 en fa di se mineur, op. 11 / Finale
25. Fantasiestuecke, op. 111 / Molto vivace ed appassionatamente
26. Fantasiestuecke, op. 111 / Piuttosto lento…
27. Fantasiestuecke, op. 111 / Con forza, assai marcato

CD 03
01. Fantasiestuecke op.12 Des Abends
02. Fantasiestuecke op.12 Aufschwung
03. Fantasiestuecke op.12 Warum?
04. Fantasiestuecke op.12 Grillen
05. Fantasiestuecke op.12 Fantasiestueck
06. Fantasiestuecke op.12 In der Nacht
07. Fantasiestuecke op.12 Fabel
08. Fantasiestuecke op.12 Traumes Wirren
09. Fantasiestuecke op.12 Ende vom Lied
10. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Thema
11. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Etude 1
12. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Var posth 1
13. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Etude 2
14. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Etude 3
15. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Etude 4
16. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Etude 5
17. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Var posth 4
18. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Etude 6
19. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Etude 7
20. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Var posth 2
21. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Var posth 5
22. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Etude 8
23. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Etude 9
24. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Var posth 3
25. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Etude 10
26. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Etude 11
27. Etudes symphoniques op. 13 Etude 12
28. Arabeske op. 18

CD 04
01. Kinderszenen op. 15 Von fremden Laendern und Menschen
02. Kinderszenen op. 15 Kuriose Geschichte
03. Kinderszenen op. 15 Haschemann
04. Kinderszenen op. 15 Bittendes Kind
05. Kinderszenen op. 15 Glueckes genug
06. Kinderszenen op. 15 Wichtige Begenbenheit
07. Kinderszenen op. 15 Traeumerei
08. Kinderszenen op. 15 Am Kamin
09. Kinderszenen op. 15 Ritter von Steckenpferd
10. Kinderszenen op. 15 Fast zu ernst
11. Kinderszenen op. 15 Fuerchtenmachen
12. Kinderszenen op. 15 Kind im Einschlummern
13. Kinderszenen op. 15 Der Dichter spricht
14. Kreileriana op. 16 / 1 Aeusserst bewegt
15. Kreileriana op. 16 / 2 Sehr innig un d nicht zu rasch
16. Kreileriana op. 16 / 2 Intermezzo I Sehr lebhaft
17. Kreileriana op. 16 / 2 Tempo I
18. Kreileriana op. 16 / 2 Intermezzo II Etwas bewegter
19. Kreileriana op. 16 / 2 Tempo I
20. Kreileriana op. 16 / 3 Sehr aufgeregt
21. Kreileriana op. 16 / 4 Sehr langsam
22. Kreileriana op. 16 / 5 Sehr lebhaft
23. Kreileriana op. 16 / 6 Sehr langsam
24. Kreileriana op. 16 / 7 Sehr rasch
25. Kreileriana op. 16 / Schnell und spielend
26. Waldszenen op. 80 Eintritt
27. Waldszenen op. 80 Jaeger auf der Lauer
28. Waldszenen op. 80 Einsame Blumen
29. Waldszenen op. 80 Verrufene Stelle
30. Waldszenen op. 80 Freundliche Landschaft
31. Waldszenen op. 80 Herberge
32. Waldszenen op. 80 Vogel als Prophet
33. Waldszenen op. 80 Jagdlied
34. Waldszenen op. 80 Abschied

CD 05
01. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Lebhaft
02. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Innig
03. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Etwas hahnebuechen
04. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Ungeduldig
05. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Einfach
06. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Sehr rasch
07. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Nicht schnell
08. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Frisch
09. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 –
10. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Balladenmaessig
11. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Einfach
12. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Mit Humor
13. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Wild und lustig
14. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Zart und singend
15. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Frisch
16. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Mit gutem Humor
17. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Wie aus der Ferne
18. Davidsbuendlertaenze op. 6 Nicht schnell
19. Blumenstueck op. 19
20. Humoreske op. 20 Einfach
21. Humoreske op. 20 Sehr rasch und leicht
22. Humoreske op. 20 Hastig
23. Humoreske op. 20 Einfach und zart
24. Humoreske op. 20 Intermezzo
25. Humoreske op. 20 Innig
26. Humoreske op. 20 Sehr lebhaft
27. Humoreske op. 20 Finale

CD 06
01. Noveletten op. 21 1 Markig und kraeftig
02. Noveletten op. 21 2 Aeusserst rasch und mit Bravour
03. Noveletten op. 21 3 Leicht und mit Humor
04. Noveletten op. 21 4 Balladenmaessig, sehr munter
05. Noveletten op. 21 5 Rauschend und festlich
06. Noveletten op. 21 6 Sehr lebhaft, mit vielem Humor
07. Noveletten op. 21 7 Aeusserst rasch
08. Noveletten op. 21 8 Sehr lebhaft
09. Sonate No. 2 op. 22 So rasch wie moeglich – schneller – noch schneller
10. Sonate No. 2 op. 22 Andantino
11. Sonate No. 2 op. 22 Scherzo – Sehr rasch und markiert
12. Sonate No. 2 op. 22 Rondo Presto
13. Sonate No. 2 op. 22 Presto (Appendix)

CD 07
01. Faschingsschwank aus Wien op. 26 – 1 Allegro
02. Faschingsschwank aus Wien op. 26 – 2 Romanze
03. Faschingsschwank aus Wien op. 26 – 3 Scherzino
04. Faschingsschwank aus Wien op. 26 – 4 Intermezzo
05. Faschingsschwank aus Wien op. 26 – 5 Finale
06. Drei Romanzen op. 28 – 1 Sehr markiert
07. Drei Romanzen op. 28 – 2 Einfach
08. Drei Romanzen op. 28 – Sehr markiert
09. Klavierkonzert op. 54 – 1 Allegro affetuoso
10. Klavierkonzert op. 54 – 2 Intermezzo (Andantino grazioso)
11. Klavierkonzert op. 54 – 3 Allegro vivace

A large assortment of Schumann from one of his most interesting interpreters

I adore Schumann’s piano music. I consider him to be among the towering giants in the history of pianistic composition. His influence was felt everywhere after, from Brahms, to Grieg, Prokofiev, Bartok, and many more. I have never tired of the endless wit and invention and the astonishing novelty that befuddled so many from his time, including his own wife. His music is difficult to play and is much harder to interpret than it sounds[hence a virtuoso wont be rewarded with a standing O compared to a Liszt Etude or the like] and it really requires a special brand of piano player to successfulyl reveal the multi-faceted pyschology of his best pieces. Perhaps thats why, when one surveys the best Schumann performances on record, the performers are usually those with their own unique personalitys-Sviatoslav Richter, Horowitz, Cortot, Youri Egorov, Radu Lupu, etc[Andras Schiff has also proven himself to be quite extraordinary in this rep].
To those names listed above, I would add Claudio Arrau. I must admit that this Schumann is different. It is big-boned on the surface with a more dominant left-hand than is customary, this is very introspective with a heavy left hand, intentionally building sonority over finding those inner voices a la Hofmann and Cortot. Five of the seven discs are new to the united states market. Arrau, along with Richter, might be the most perfect mind for Schumann’s psychology, intellectual, and virtusoic demands. Case in point-the astounding interpretation of the Humoreske op20. This performance might be one of the finest things I have ever heard on record. It is, essentially, perfect. The pianism is absolutely breathtaking. After the intro, listening to the bullet like precision in his left hand with sparse to no pedaling, combined with the singing legato of his right[again no pedal so it is all hands and body] is an essay in craftsmanship. I have listened to this interp about a hundred times and every time I find something new. This version has been previously available of the Great Pianists survey, and, I believe, his Arrau Philips Celebration album[accompanied by the Fant op17]
Speaking of the Fant op17, again this is one of the most [in sync] performances of this warhorse I can think of, and there is stiff competition. Just listen to the intro and compare it with Richter, or Biss, or Kissin, Horowitz, Argerich, etc, and listen to the subtle dynamic shifts, the almost impossible legato[subtle perfection is what comes to mind] Again, Arrau has the perfect combination of drama and emotion without over-sentimentality, intellect, and virtuosity. Richter is the only pianist I can think of that can compare in these two pieces.
This collection comprised all of Schumann’s major works, and many of his lesser known marvels. The complete Novellettes are of special interest since very few pianists play them beside the first[Schiff also played them all on his ECM release which is highly recommended-also contains a wonderful Humoreske].
Previously available on CD are the Carnaval,Kinder,Wald on a release-and of course the Piano Concerto-this one conducted by Davis, and the SymEtudes were available on a Music and Arts[or Appian] live recital.
The tone is captured marvelously on these discs and the sound is as fine as one could imagine-it sounds real-not like recent piano discs that sound like the piano must be the size of a volcano.
For those lucky enough to have Arrau 30’s Carnaval-this is a much different take and a comparison of the two provi9des much insight into the mind of an aging master. The same can be said of his Kreisleriana previously available on Andante’s Schumann collection-recorded some forty years earlier than this version.
I bought this foremost due to my love of Arrau. For those who are looking to acquire their first schumann disc, or want to get much of it at a reasonable cost-this collection is expensive-I would probably recommend the Ashkenazy set, which contains many wonderful performances.
However, if you are a fan of Arrau, this is an absolute must and much of this rep will be new to your collection.