Gregory Sokolov Plays Schumann’s Bunte Blätter
In 1850 Robert Schumann collected some of his discarded music and rearranged some of it to come up with the compositions titled “Bunte Blätter”and the Albumblatter. Although fine works, they don’t and...
View ArticleDavid Zinman Conducts Schumann’s Symphony #4
Robert Schumann completed his symphony #4 in 1841. Schumann heavily revised the symphony in 1851, and it was this version that reached publication. Schumann’s revision of the symphony #4 did not change...
View ArticleWilhelm Kempff Plays Schumann’s Arabeske Op. 18
The story of Robert and Clara Schumann is a familiar one: He was a brooding, poetic soul with a passion for music, literature and composition and she the prodigious daughter of his piano teacher. Their...
View ArticleYeol Eum Son Plays the Schumann-Liszt “Widmung”
Marked by its technical bravura, the song “Widmung”, (or Dedication in English) has remained one of the most popular encore pieces in the piano literature, allowing pianists to display their...
View ArticleYeol Eum Son Plays Schumann’s “Kinderszenen”
Robert Schumann composed Kinderszenen in February and March 1838, during a separation from his fiancée Clara Wieck. The translation of the German title is “Scenes from Childhood” Depictions of children...
View ArticleSchumann’s Piano Quartet Opus 47
The Piano Quartet in E♭ major, Op. 47, was composed by Robert Schumann in 1842 for piano, violin, viola and cello. Written during a productive period in which he produced several large-scale chamber...
View ArticleHelene Grimaud’s Concert Review at Stanford University
A surprisingly large and appreciative audience joined me on Sunday afternoon, November 6, 2022 at Stanford’s Bing Concert Hall. We heard a wonderful concert by pianist Helene Grimaud. Much time has...
View ArticleSchumann’s Violin Sonata #1
Many of Schumann’s later works are distinguished by their tendency to focus on single themes or motives. That’s particularly true of the A minor Sonata in its outer movements, which display a finely...
View ArticleOld but still favorite Schumann…
For many years my favorite violist has been Ms. Tabea Zimmermann. And her interpretation of “Maerchenbilder” by Robert Schumann is legendary: Enjoy!
View ArticleRobert Schumann’s Symphony #2
Composer Robert Schumann suffered from mental issues for many years during his lifetime. But in 1842, Schumann collapsed from exhaustion and overwork. When Robert and his wife, Clara went to Dresden...
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