Search - Robert Schumann, Bernd Glemser :: Schumann: Symphonic Etudes; Phantasie in C major

Serviceable Schumann, and in One Instance, Exceptional

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 03/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The thing that grabs me most about this CD by German pianist Bernd Glemser of two of Schumann's greatest works - the Symphonic Études and the Fantasy in C - is the last band on the disc, the third movement of the Fantasy. Here Glemser gets deep into the keys, coaxes a gorgeous tone out of the piano, and plays poetically to the very end. This movement, a slow one after two faster ones, always comes as a shock to the uninitiated, and yet it is the only possible conclusion to what is probably Schumann's greatest solo piano work. And such poetry it conveys. Its simple appearance in the score belies the difficulties of conveying the depth of feeling it contains, and Glemser plumbs those depths with lyricism and pathos. Well done.



Otherwise, though, I have to say that any number of other pianists have played the Symphonic Études and the first two movements of the Fantasy with similar skill and musicianship. This is not to say that Glemser's traversal is not fine--it is--it's just that it isn't particularly individual; he doesn't seem to have very much personal to say about this deeply felt music. All the notes are in place, of course--even in the devilishly difficult last pages of the Fantasy's second movement--and the phrasing, sense of architecture, and dynamic contrasts are all there. But not much seems to rise above the level of careful attention to detail. Other pianists--I'm thinking of Richter, Cortot and Hess in the Symphonic Études; Richter, and Arrau in the Fantasy--have played them with greater emotional impact.



The bottom line, then, is that for the newcomer to these works, these performances are perfectly fine. For someone who already knows the works, they might seek out those other performances mentioned. And one must always remember that the Naxos budget price makes the recording more attractive for those who don't have unlimited funds. Speaking of Bernd Glemser, though, one can recommend unstintingly his Naxos disc of the Schumann Piano Sonatas; they are exceedingly fine.



TT=72:13



Scott Morrison"

A Marvelous Performance!

John Edward Weisenfluh | Los Angeles, CA | 03/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mr Glemser plays with intellectual honesty and fine artistry. His tone is always refined, sometimes exquisite, his technic is more-than ample and fluent, his thinking is fresh, his emotional insight is sometimes overwhelming. (Of course one has to listen with an open mind.) Mr. Glemser has become one of my favorite living performers of Schumann. I have learned so much from him!"