A Lyrical Schumann
Robin Friedman | Washington, D.C. United States | 09/16/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This CD consists of three historic performances of the music of Robert Schumann by the great pianist Myra Hess. The works were recorded in 1931, 1937, and 1938. The recordings are not up to modern standards but the sound is acceptable. This CD is valuable for its music and for Myra Hess' pianism. The disc includes Schumann's early suite "Carnival", op.9. This is the music of a young man, both impulsive and reflective. The music is full of the fervor of early romanticism with its programme celebrating art and imagination and opposing materialism and "philistinism". The work is in 21 short, titled movements, each of which is derived from the same four-note motto.Hess gives Carnival a beautiful, lyrical reading. Her tempos are fast, but they have the rhythmic freedom this music demands. Her performance does not have the clangor or bravura that many pianists bring to this great score. Rather, it is a subdued, somewhat classical reading of Carnival emphasizing song and reflection. It is a legitimate interpretation of a great work of the romantic piano literature.The second major work on the album is Schumann's piano concerto in a minor, op.54., recorded in 1938 with an unidentified orchestra conducted by Walter Goehr. Myra Hess gives a lyrical, impassioned performance of this great concerto. The orchestral playing is less good and the recorded sound is not of high quality. Nevertheless, this piece is worth hearing for the intimate quality of Hess's playing.The third work on the CD is a short selection "the prophet bird" from Schumann's "Waldszenen", op.82. Ms Hess gives the work a haunting performance.This is budget-priced CD that will introduce the new listener to great works of the romantic piano repertory and to a legendary pianist. Those listeners who already love Schumann's music will enjoy hearing Myra Hess' performances. The CD comes with excellent, analytical program notes which will help the listener develop his or her critical listening skills with this music."
Impeccable musical taste is not enough
klavierspiel | TX, USA | 12/15/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Dame Myra Hess was one of the most beloved pianists of the first half of the twentieth-century, not only as a soloist but also as a chamber music collaborator with such greats as cellist Pablo Casals. She represents an ideal of refinement, good taste and elegance that seems very remote today.On the evidence of this Schumann recording it would seem that Dame Myra's primary appeal to today's listeners might be as a chamber musician. There is nothing wrong with her traversal of Schumann's Carnaval except that it simply is not exciting enough; it does not capture the composer's essential spirit of fantasy and eccentricity. Many indicated repeats are omitted, which compromises the composer's concept more than the occasional spot of untidy playing.The same virtues and faults are apparent in the other pieces on this CD. The Concerto, being cast in a more standard classical form, responds better to Hess's approach and there are many beautiful moments within what again winds up as a rather sedate interpretation. She is not helped here by a second-rate and poorly recorded orchestra. Indeed, the sound throughout is very dated, boxy and congested at dynamic climaxes. The engineers did their best with the material they had, but there is a limit to how much transfers from 78rpm discs can be enhanced. To appreciate Dame Myra's art one first of all needs to hear it more clearly than it is heard here."
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1