Search - Robert Schumann, Wilhelm Kempff :: Schumann: Piano Works

Sensitive, yet aristocratic Schumann

04/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wilhelm Kempff's Schumann is distinctive and a pleasure to hear. He takes a decidedly non-feminine stance with this music: he paints with bold strokes. Nonetheless, he seems to understand the music he is playing, which is made entirely plain in the individual pieces of the Kinderszenen, the Kreisleriana, or the Waldszenen. In larger pieces, including the Carnaval, the Davidsbündlertänze, and Papillons, a straightforward but lyrical approach is confidently maintained. Kempff is occasionally indulgent when it comes to the dynamics, but one wonders if the composer himself would object to these interpretive touches. His tempos are decidedly catholic relative to many other great performers. His Schumann manages to sound heartfelt without being distressingly stop-and-go. For its price, I believe the Kempff set represents an excellent overview of some of Schumann's greatest music. This set is HIGHLY recommended."

Aristocratic and heartfelt schumann

drollere | Sebastopol, CA United States | 08/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this compilation has the benefit of including most of schumann's important keyboard works (among excluded works are the toccata, first sonata, bunte blatter and fantasiestucke), under the hands of an extraordinary schumann interpreter.recorded in the 1970's, when kempff was nearing 80, this is genuinely classic schumann. the virtuosic extremes of the symphonische etuden and kriesleriana are not quite fully exploited, but there is no flubbing, stumbling or cutting corners: kempff has things always under control. look to argerich, pollini or pogorelich for white hot schumann, kempff delivers him as a human being. for the sheer poetry of schumann, kempff has never been bettered. his davidsbundlertanze, especially the last 5 movements, is without peer. the kinderszenen is delightful. the poetry of the fantasie in C is magnificent. there is a lifetime of musical experience and temperament in this playing. kempff's approach stands apart for his remarkable ability to turn the mood and momentum of the music from one measure to the next, never in a random or willful manner, but with an alert insight and organic flow. other players tend to caricature schumann by emphasizing the contrasts, swinging from bombast to bathos: kempff emphasizes the transitions and continuities. if his fortissimo chords clang a little, the pianissimos are breathtakingly transparent. and no one, simply no one, captures schumann's nobility of heart and aching yearning for the beyond -- in the fantasie, in "zart und singend" -- better than kempff. a benchmark for any schumann collection."

An insightful account of Schumann's most florescent works.

drollere | 03/05/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Kempff's interpretation of Schumann's famous piano music is extremely insightful and brings the listener to understand Schumann the composer in lieu of Schumann the pianist. The readings of "Carnaval" and "Davidsbundlertanze" are the highlights of this four disc set; furthermore, the quality of the recording is favorable."