Search - Robert Schumann, Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Frederic Chopin :: Emil von Sauer Recordings 1940

Schumann in Full Flower

John Atherton | CINCINNATI, OHIO United States | 04/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sauer is considered by many the finest Liszt pupil to have left recordings. His style was caricatured by Claudio Arrau in conversations with Joseph Horowitz. Arrau dismissed Sauer as a salon player, a darling of frivolous Vienna. But Josef Hofmann (also disparaged by Arrau) gave a truer estimate, calling Sauer "a truly great virtuoso." Although Sauer downplayed his association with Liszt, we hear on this disc of live performances -- even more than in his commercial recordings released by Marston -- Lisztian breadth and nobility, and also the refusal to take oneself too seriously, the hallmark of a gentleman. Sauer preferred Anton Rubinstein to Clara Schumann, and when listening to Sauer -- still at his best so late in life -- one suspects that Robert Schumann might have agreed. A must for all music lovers."

Sauerstoff

James K. Hanson | Hudson, New York | 02/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The great Arbiter label has, once again, produced something pianophiles ignore at their peril. Sauer, along with D'Albert, was perhaps the greatest of Liszt's pupils to make records. Here, the Schumann Concerto is given the full late Romantic treatment, and I could not be more pleased. Sauer's tone production is deep and lovely; even his wrong notes are full of feeling. As usual, Sauer's tempi are relaxed, but his timing is perfect. Collectors will already own Marston's set of Sauer's commercial recordings. This live performance will only confirm the impression that Sauer was one of the greatest of Liszt's acolytes. If you like to hear the piano played in a civilized and gentlemanly manner, full of feeling, without kitsch, technically capable, singing.... please buy this."