Schumann Gold 2 CD Set

Various artists including Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Nelson Freire, Bryn Terfel, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Leonard Bernstein and Ivo Pogorelich.

TRACK LISTING

SCHUMANN CD 1 Symphony No. 3 in E flat major op. 97 “Rhenish” (1st movement) Carnaval Op 9, Nos. 11, 12, 13 Myrthen Op. 25, Nos. 1, 3, 4 Piano Quintet in E flat major Op. 44 (1st movement) Liederkreis Op. 39, Nos. 5, 8, 12 Symphony No. 2 in C major Op. 61 (3rd movement) Toccata Op. 7 String Quartet in A minor Op. 41, No. 1 (2nd movement) Liederkreis Op. 24, No. 9 Fünf Stücke im Volkston Op. 102, No. 1 Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54 (3rd movement)

CD 2 Overture “Manfred” Op. 115 "Träumerei" from Kinderszenen Op. 15, No. 7 Symphony no. 1 in B flat major Op. 38 “Spring” (3rd movement) Dichterliebe Op. 48, Nos. 1, 3, 7, 15 Cello Concerto in A minor Op. 129 (2nd movement) Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor Op. 60 (2nd movement) Waldszenen Op. 82, No. 7 Fantasiestücke Op. 12, No. 7 Das Paradies und die Peri Op. 50, No. 18 Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor Op. 105 (1st movement) Symphony No. 4 in D minor Op. 120 (3rd movement) Frauenliebe und Leben Op. 42, No. 4 Arabeske Op. 18

REPERTOIRE: The set covers all the types of music Schumann wrote: piano solo, symphonic, concerto, chamber and Lied.

PIANO: Classics such as Träumerei (Dreaming) and the Arabeske in magical performances by Horowitz and Pires respectively; Ivo Pogorelich’s riveting rendition of the super-virtuosic Toccata and three selections from Nelson Freire’s Carnaval, full of panache.

SYMPHONY/CONCERTO: The invigorating first movement of the Rhenish Symphony under Gardiner opens the set, followed later by the searing slow movement from the Second Symphony in Bernstein’s almost Mahlerian interpretation; Rafael Kubelik’s Manfred Overture is full of drama, and both Karajan and Solti offer classic accounts of the Scherzi from the Third and Fourth Symphonies. Radu Lupu revels in the rollicking finale to the Piano Concerto, Lynn Harrell offers an impassioned account of the Cello Concerto’s slow movement.

VOCAL: Matchless performances from Dichterliebe by Fritz Wunderlich, Bryn Terfel sings favourites including Der Nussbaum and Du bist wie eine Blume, and there are classic recordings from Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. Rarities include a charming chorus from Gardiner’s celebrated recording of Das Paradies und die Peri.

CHAMBER: Driven, vibrant accounts of movements from the Piano Quintet from the Hagen Quartet and Paul Gulda, and from the First Piano Trio by the Beaux Arts Trio; plus passionate violin and piano from Gidon Kremer and Martha Argerich in the First Violin Sonata.