Pletnev Plays Schumann [Hybrid SACD] [Hybrid SACD] [SACD]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Mikhail Pletnev is a phenomenal pianist. His technique is truly stunning and as effortless as brushing a feather-duster across the keyboard. His tone is beguilingly beautiful, smooth as silk and velvet; he seems to caress the keys, coaxing from them entire layers of sonorities and an endless variety of colors, nuances and dynamics. Gold Medalist at the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition, his repertoire ranges far and wide; his award-winning recordings include music by Scarlatti, C.P.E. Bach, Grieg, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, and, being a conductor and composer as well, his own works and transcriptions. Musically, he must be one of the most individualistic and original performers before the public. This disc shows that Schumann, the quintessential romantic, has found a kindred spirit, but one whose approach is very much his own. Pletnev does not hesitate to bring out changes of mood, dynamics and character with quite drastic shifts of tempo, heralded by big ritardandos and long pauses. Thus, his playing is extraordinarily free, yet simple, lesiurely, comfortable and without fuss. And though all the liberties are obviously carefully thought out (and might at times seem a bit excessive), they have an almost improvisatory spontaneity that gives them a feeling of being freshly experienced, as if he were making everything up on the spot. He underlines the contrasts between the variations of the Symphonic Etudes (and replaces a variation of the work's later, standard version with two from the earlier one); the Fantasie is truly fantastic, rhapsodic, heroic, passionate, deeply felt. Of the five rather unfamiliar "Album Leaves" (or Colored Leaves), four are slow and singing, one is a wispy witches' dance, and the Arabesque is all tenderness, ardor and charm. --Edith Eisler

Tracks:

Thema. Andante
Variation I. Un Poco Piu Vivo
Variation II. Marcato Il Canto
Etude III. Vivace
Variation III
Variation IV
Variation V. Agitato
Variation VI. Allegro Molto
Variation VII
Variation 5
Variation 1
Etude IX. Presto Possibile
Variation IX. Con Espressione
Finale. Allegro Brillante
Durchaus Phantastisch End Leidenschaftlich Vorzutragen - Im Legendenton - Erstes Tempo
Massig. Durchaus Energisch - Etwas Langsamer - Viel Bewegter
Langsam Getragen. Durchweg Leise Zu Halten - Etwas Bewegter
Albumblatt I: Ziemlich Langsam
Albumblatt II: Schnell
Albumblatt III: Ziemlich Langsam, Sehr Gesangvoll
Albumblatt IV: Sehr Langsam
Albumblatt V: Langsam
Leicht Und Zart - Minore I. Etwas Langsamer - Minore II. Etwas Langsamer - Zum Schluss. Langsam

Amazon.com

Mikhail Pletnev is a phenomenal pianist. His technique is truly stunning and as effortless as brushing a feather-duster across the keyboard. His tone is beguilingly beautiful, smooth as silk and velvet; he seems to caress the keys, coaxing from them entire layers of sonorities and an endless variety of colors, nuances and dynamics. Gold Medalist at the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition, his repertoire ranges far and wide; his award-winning recordings include music by Scarlatti, C.P.E. Bach, Grieg, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, and, being a conductor and composer as well, his own works and transcriptions. Musically, he must be one of the most individualistic and original performers before the public. This disc shows that Schumann, the quintessential romantic, has found a kindred spirit, but one whose approach is very much his own. Pletnev does not hesitate to bring out changes of mood, dynamics and character with quite drastic shifts of tempo, heralded by big ritardandos and long pauses. Thus, his playing is extraordinarily free, yet simple, lesiurely, comfortable and without fuss. And though all the liberties are obviously carefully thought out (and might at times seem a bit excessive), they have an almost improvisatory spontaneity that gives them a feeling of being freshly experienced, as if he were making everything up on the spot. He underlines the contrasts between the variations of the Symphonic Etudes (and replaces a variation of the work's later, standard version with two from the earlier one); the Fantasie is truly fantastic, rhapsodic, heroic, passionate, deeply felt. Of the five rather unfamiliar "Album Leaves" (or Colored Leaves), four are slow and singing, one is a wispy witches' dance, and the Arabesque is all tenderness, ardor and charm. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Romantic Music in the Hands of a Romantic Musician.......2006-08-18

Few pianists playing and recording these days polarize audiences the way Mikhail Pletnev does. The reasons for not appreciating his approach to Schumann, in this case, are solid academic arguments, and from some of the reviews here written there is much to learn about pianism in general.

This listener falls into the admiring category. Knowing that the Romantic pianists and composers played from the heart at times more so than the mind, Pletnev seems to fit into the heady team of the salon gatherings from the time of Schumann. His liberties taken with ritards and rubatos, with phrasing and with tempi, may sound indulgent to some, but to this listener Pletnev plays with complete charm and candor and heart on the sleeve approach without neglecting his extraordinarily impeccable musicianship and intelligence. One can nearly hear the salon ladies swoon and faint and that makes for exciting listening - if this superb recording is approached in the Romantic mindset.

Pletnev surveys the 'Symphonic Etudes', Op. 13, the Fantasie in C major, Op. 17, the much loved 'Album (Colored) Leaves', Op. 99, and the elegant 'Arabeske in C major, Op. 18. His technique is light, airy, supple, sure, and spontaneous in approach - and for this listener that is enough! Grady Harp, August 06

Only for those who want everything Schumann wrote........2005-02-03

Like most classical composers, Schumann wrote some wonderful material ---- and also composed some pieces that were rather pedestrian. Perhaps these compositions belong in the pantheon of exceptional works, but they didn't do much for me, an advanced amateur listener. Instead of wanting to hear more, as in the case of Beethoven and Mozart's piano works, I kept wishing this CD would come to an end. There are Schumann compositions I really like, such as his symphonies, piano quartets, and piano trios; but these particular pieces do not invite me to repeated hearings.

Pletnev Variations on the Symphonic Etudes of Schumann.......2004-12-03

I am listening to this recording as I write. Periodically, I have to check the cd player to make sure it hasn't cut off . . . No, it's just Pletnev playing games with the music again. Totally against Schumann's indications in the score, Pletnev sometimes speeds up, sometimes slows down, sometimes gets very loud, sometimes gets very quiet, sometimes slows down and gets quiet simultaneously so that it seems that he's decided to take a break. Well, yes he puts in pauses of many second that are not indicated in the score. If it sounds like I do not like this recording, that is correct. Schumann is one of my favorites and I bought this recording on the strength of some earlier Pletnev recordings that I like very much (Scarlatti, Tchaikovsky). To say that I am disappointed with these performances is an understatement. They are awful, unless you happen to like your Schumann co-authored by Pletnev. These are not interpretations -- they are recompositions. To be specific, the Symphonic Etudes, one of Schumann's greatest pieces (probably the greatest variations written for piano since Bach's Goldberg and Beethoven's Diabelli), are played in a sort of free form never intended by the composer. Rather, the Etudes are among Schumann's most rigorously-structured compositions, calling for an interpretation that brings out this structure. Pletnev does not do so, but rambles high and low, here and there, soft and loud through all of the variations, with no apparent justification or rationale, certainly not from Schumann's score. To illustrate how personal and idiosyncratic is this interpretation, Pletnev adds two of Schumann's five unpublished variations (other pianists play either none of the variations or add all five of them) IN PLACE OF the original Variation VIII. Did you hear what I just wrote? Pletnev removes one of the standard portions of this score and substitutes it with two non-standard pieces. According to the liner notes (which are actually quite well-done, probably the best thing about this production), this rearrangement of the score is done because for Pletnev it is "a sequence that he finds musically particularly convincing" -- well so much for any insight that a mere composer like Schumann might have had into his own piece -- Pletnev's personal insight will have to suffice for this performance. Moving to the second piece on the disc, the Fantasy in C, perhaps Schumann's greatest composition and certainly one of the majestic peaks of the piano literature, is similarly butchered. I guess you could at least say that Pletnev's excesses are better served in this unabashedly romantic work than in the Etudes, which demand a more classical, structured approach. Nevertheless, the romanticism Schumann wrote into the score -- which is a kind of love letter to his beloved, (then) inaccessible Clara -- is quite sufficient, thank you, without uncalled-for excesses from Pletnev. The silence I referenced above occurs about three minutes into Pletnev's performance of this piece (and it is a long silence), right before the fortissimo chords in the opening movement of the Fantasy, effectively squelching the tension built up in Schumann's score. But I digress by noting specific instances of Pletnev excess. I have finally turned off the CD player following the second movement of the Fantasy: I cannot bear to hear the butchering of one of the most beautiful slow movements in the literature. Thus, I cannot comment further on that movement, nor on the Bunter Blatter and Arabesque that comprise the remainder of this generously (77 min.) filled disc. Please avoid. This disc may cause you to love Pletnev. It is unlikely to cause you to love Schumann. On a positive note, the recorded sound is superb, very natural.

The perfect Schumann.......2004-09-21

I don't know what some of the others reviewer's problems are. This is a most wonderful recording of music by the arch-romanticist. Seldomly have I heard a living (i.e. contemporary) pianist put so much of weight and colors in an interpretation of classical romantic repertoire (only exception: Mustonen in his Beethoven!).

Pletnev makes each note count, he phrases spaciously and lets the pieces breathe. Ahhh, Schumann, was my first reaction. Ahhh, Schumann, is to this very day my last reaction.

Highly recommended.

Lush and emotional but unfulfilling.......2004-08-31

I'll begin by saying I am not a great fan of the music of Robert Schumann, the noted manic-depressive whose manic episodes resulted in virtually all his compositions. I regularly hear that manic side of him and he is on display in some of these pieces.

I bought this to compare the arch-colorist Pletnev against the arch-intellectual Richter in the Symphonic Etudes. I like what Pletnev has to say in this music. He is uncompromising and unpredicatble. His piano tone is marvelous with a recording to match. He seems to know what he wants to do all the time.

I compared Richter's 1976 recording against the Pletnev. There was a great difference in the sound. Even though Richter sounded good, Pletnev sounded great in comparison, as if he was playing in the room with me. But there was no comparison in terms of interpretation. Richter is a master, where Pletnev is a talented colorist.

The rest of the CD is fine if you like Schumann. The Fantasy is typical Schumann and Bunte Blatter is very nice little pieces of joy. But overall, I would never find this disk satisfying since the main course doesn't compare.

Average customer rating:

Pletnev is always different
unworthy issue

Pletnev Plays Schumann [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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ASIN: B0001J04HO
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Pletnev is always different.......2006-08-03

Pletnev is a great pianist. But he is different from others. His approach to Chopin and Schumann is a very personal one, but always natural, believable, suitable. He never strikes the piano, he doesn't need to, because he owns an extensive sound and nuance range. His piannissimi are unique.

unworthy issue.......2006-05-27

There seems to be an "effortless" work in playing these pieces but that doesn't make them shine at all. Although Pletnev's legato is clean he can't rely on harmony and it sounds pretty much al the same. This particular SACD sound isn't the best also.

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