Composer: Robert Schumann
Performer: Martin Helmchen
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Alpha
Catalogue: ALPHA857
Release: 2022
Size: 1.21 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Novelletten, Op. 28
01. I. Markiert und kräftig
02. IIa. Äusserst rasch und mit Bravour
03. IIb. Intermezzo (Etwas langsamer, durchaus zart)
04. IIc. Erstes Tempo
05. IIIa. Leicht und mit Humor
06. IIIb. Intermezzo (Rasch und wild)
07. IIIc. Erstes Tempo
08. IV. Ballmäßig. Sehr munter
09. V. Rauschend und festlich
10. VI. Sehr lebhaft, mit vielem Humor
11. VII. Äußerst rasch
12. VIIIa. Sehr lebhaft
13. VIIIb. Trio I (Noch lebhafter)
14. VIIIc. Trio II (Hell und lustig)
15. VIIId Fortsetzung (Einfach und gesangvoll)
16. VIIIe. Fortsetzung und Schluss (Munter, nicht zu rasch)
Soirées musicales, Op. 6
17. II. Notturno (Andante con moto)
18. V. Mazurka (Con moto)
19. I. Toccatina (Presto)
Gesänge der Frühe, op. 133
20. I. Im ruhigen Tempo
21. II. Belebt, nicht zu rasch
22. III. Lebhaft
23. IV. Bewegt
24. V. Im Anfange ruhiges, im Verlauf bewegtes Tempo
Schumann was twenty-eight years old when he composed in 1838 a cycle of eight pieces for piano, the Novelletten, Op. 21. This impressive, highly virtuosic set was dedicated to the pianist Adolf von Henselt, whose spectacular playing and technique were often compared to those of Liszt. Presented by the composer as “long, bizarre tales”, the Novelletten were written around the same time as the Kinderszenen, two years before his marriage to Clara, to whom he confided: “I have written a frightful amount of music for you in the last three weeks – light-hearted pieces, Egmont stories, family scenes with fathers, a wedding, in short, the most amiable things”.
Martin Helmchen has taken up this cycle (with the addition of Robert’s Gesänge der Frühe and three excerpts from Clara’s Soirées musicales) with all the passion and virtuosity for which he is famed. He was determined to record this programme on a Bechstein pianoforte, in order to capture as many of the colours of this flamboyant musical kaleidoscope as possible.