Schumann's Fantasy in C

[William Hsieh]

Schumann's Fantasy in C major, in my opinion, is one of the finest piano
works he ever wrote. Of the recordings I've heard, only few attainthe
highest level of "Schumannness". The followings are my humble opinions:

1.Martha Argerich: (on EMI) exquisite coloring and nuances plus much
fantasy-like atmosphere and very Schumannisque anxiety. The coda of the 2nd
mvt is the best and most immaculate leaps ever imaginable. This is exactly
the part where Horowitz failed so miserably in his 1965 Carnegie Return
Recital, but the same spot Evgeni Kissin was able to sail through with
dazzling abandon and finesse in his recent San Francisco recital (He only
played one single wrong note in that passage, where even Annie Fisher and
Egorov were reportedly to have messed up in their recitals)

2.Maurice Pollini: (on DG ) Amazingly balanced yet full of underlying and
ardent romanticism. Clean and perfect,as usual, as always in Pollini's
recordings.

3.Murray Perahia: (on CBS MasterWorks) beautifully concieved and
utra-sensitively rendered.

4.Claudio Arrau: (on Phillips) very architectually aware and played with
much passion, there is much old-fasion romanticism here.

5. Arthur Rubinstein: (on RCA) very straightforward. This is one
superlative example where the music speaks for itself and one is barely
aware of an interpreter at work.

There must be some other incredible recordings out there. I suspect
Richter, Gieseking and Michelangeli would do a great job with this piece.
Any opinions and thoughts or suggestions ?

Some bad recordings to avoid:

1.Micha Dichter: (on Phillips) it's on LP and I don't think it's been
re-issued.(I'm glad!) All senses of poetry, fantasy and nuaces are
destroyed in his Lisztian playing.

2.Daniel Barenboim: (on DG) it's also on LP. It's incredibly impetuous and
inconiderately and insensitively so. An artist of his stature should and
could have done better.

Give me some feedbacks, folks !!

William Hsieh, wil...@leland.stanford.edu

[Dan Koren]

In article <william-23...@otero-quadra.stanford.edu> wil...@leland.stanford.edu (William Hsieh) writes:
>
> Schumann's Fantasy in C major, in my opinion, is one of the finest piano
>works he ever wrote. Of the recordings I've heard, only few attainthe
>highest level of "Schumannness". The followings are my humble opinions:

I hope you don't mind me saying this, but you should make opinions even a
little bit humbler :-) While Martha and Maurizio are indeed very good, the
reference interpretation is still Richter's 1962 performance (reissued many
times on CD). One cannot really attempt a serious study of this piece without
first listening to it (there is an alternate Richter version from the Prague
spring festival).

>1.Martha Argerich: (on EMI) exquisite coloring and nuances plus much
>fantasy-like atmosphere and very Schumannisque anxiety. The coda of the 2nd
>mvt is the best and most immaculate leaps ever imaginable. This is exactly
>the part where Horowitz failed so miserably in his 1965 Carnegie Return
>Recital, but the same spot Evgeni Kissin was able to sail through with
>dazzling abandon and finesse in his recent San Francisco recital (He only
>played one single wrong note in that passage, where even Annie Fisher and
>Egorov were reportedly to have messed up in their recitals)
>
>2.Maurice Pollini: (on DG ) Amazingly balanced yet full of underlying and
>ardent romanticism. Clean and perfect,as usual, as always in Pollini's
>recordings.
>
>3.Murray Perahia: (on CBS MasterWorks) beautifully concieved and
>utra-sensitively rendered.

Not in the running.

>4.Claudio Arrau: (on Phillips) very architectually aware and played with
>much passion, there is much old-fasion romanticism here.

What ?!? Claudio Arthritis? ;-))

>5. Arthur Rubinstein: (on RCA) very straightforward. This is one
>superlative example where the music speaks for itself and one is barely
>aware of an interpreter at work.
>
>There must be some other incredible recordings out there. I suspect
>Richter, Gieseking and Michelangeli would do a great job with this piece.
>Any opinions and thoughts or suggestions ?

I am not aware of any Michelangeli performances, but you've certainly
missed a few great ones: Edwin Fischer, Yves Nat, and Dmitri Bashkirov's
supreme 1961 recording (also on EMI).

dk

[Mario Taboada]

I second Richter, Rubinstein, Argerich. I would also add
a wonderful performance by Richard Goode on Nonesuch, coupled with
an excellent Humoreske.

Best regards,

Mario Taboada
Los Angeles

[F.H. Chong]

In article <william-23...@otero-quadra.stanford.edu>, wil...@leland.stanford.edu (William Hsieh) writes:
>
> Schumann's Fantasy in C major, in my opinion, is one of the finest piano
> works he ever wrote. Of the recordings I've heard, only few attainthe
> highest level of "Schumannness". The followings are my humble opinions:
>

> There must be some other incredible recordings out there. I suspect
> Richter, Gieseking and Michelangeli would do a great job with this piece.
> Any opinions and thoughts or suggestions ?
>

> William Hsieh, wil...@leland.stanford.edu
How about trying Jorge Bolet`s recording on DECCA ? The fantasy in C major,coupled with Carnaval was
recorded in 1986 ( I think..) when he was quite old. I liked his performance of the Fantasy but
not quite as much for the Carnaval(which is also pretty good). The sound of the piano is beautiful,
well balanced and full. Overall,it is a first-rate performance of the work,sensitive and romantic .
Bolet is a superb Schumann interpreter but I think Richter would also do a good job on this.
Richter fans please respond.

F.H Chong

[Nadine S Harris]

Since no one else has mentioned it, there is a marvelous
recording of this tremendous piece by Rudolf Firkusny.
Richter still a favorite; I play them both. Firkusny
is more poetic. People don't play this way so much these days.

Nadine

[Erika Reiman]

I would also recommend Richard Goode's sensitive and well-thought-out
interpretation on Elektra/Nonesuch, coupled with an even better
performance of the Humoreske, op. 20, a piece that deserves more "airplay".

-Erika