Schumann: Kinderszenen/Carnaval/Faschingsschwank aus Wien

On this CD:

1. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15
Composed by Robert Schumann
with Daniel Barenboim

2. Faschingsschwank aus Wien ("Phantasiebilder"), for piano, Op. 26
Composed by Robert Schumann
with Daniel Barenboim

3. Carnaval for piano, Op. 9
Composed by Robert Schumann
with Daniel Barenboim

Schumann: Kinderszenen/Carnaval/Faschingsschwank aus Wien,Robert Schumann,Daniel Barenboim,Polygram Records,Classical,Classical Music,Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard,Keyboard,Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title
Works for Solo Piano
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Wonderful music, great playing, even better price
  • This is well worth the price
  • Not Ashkenazy's forte (pun on forte intended)
  • beautifully played, wonderful and overlooked pieces
Works for Solo Piano
Schumann , and Ashkenazy
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
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ASIN: B00006IU8T
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

  1. Arabeske In C, Op.18
  2. Papillons, Op.2
  3. Symphonic Studies, Op.13
  4. Carnaval, Op.9
  5. Humoreske, Op.20
  6. Noveletten, Op.21
  7. Waldszenen, Op.82
  8. Kinderszenen, Op.15
  9. Piano Sonata No.1 In F Sharp Minor, Op.11
  10. 8 Fantasiestke, Op.12
  11. Blumenstk, Op.19
  12. Davidsbdlertze, Op.6
  13. Kreisleriana, Op.16
  14. Noveletten, Op.21
  15. Piano Sonata No.2 In G Minor, Op.22
  16. Abegg Variations, Op.1
  17. Fantasie In C, Op.17
  18. Faschingsschwank Aus Wien, Op.26
  19. Bunte Blter, Op.99
  20. Nachtstke, Op.23
  21. 3 Romanzen, Op.28

Amazon.com

For less than $60, this seven-CD set brings the buyer almost all of Schumann's important works for solo piano performed by one of the great pianists of the last 50 years. Ashkenazy is nearly as insightful an interpreter of Schumann as he is of Chopin and the quality of these performances, which were recorded between 1984 and 1995, is generally high. The gnarled F-sharp Minor Sonata is beautifully organized, as well as emotionally compelling; "Papillons" has style, color, and flexibility; "Waldszenen" displays poetry, strength, and simplicity; the G-Minor Sonata is clearly outlined and impeccably delivered; "Kinderszenen" is played with fluidity and nuance; and "Carnaval" is delivered with bigness of conception, virility, and authority that make it among the finest ever recorded. Even on those occasions when Ashkenazy fails to reach such heights--as he does, for example, in a "Davidsbundlertanze" that is a mite too solemn and deliberate for the music's helter-skelter whimsy--his performances still achieve a distinguished standard. Nevertheless, it is Ashkenazy's misfortune that he must compete against his younger self. The readings in this set of the Symphonic Etudes, the Fantasy in C Major, "Kreisleriana," and the "Humoresque" fall short compared to those Ashkenazy recorded in the 1960s and early 1970s. In those earlier performance--reissued on a Double Decca set--the notes roll off the pianist's fingers in a dazzling and melting manner, with a singing tone and a sense of rapture, that he was unable to match 20 years later. --Stephen Wigler

Album Details

Few Pianists have Explored and Recorded Such a Wealth of Keyboard Literature as Vladimir Ashkenazy. During an Association with Decca which Stretches Back Almost 40 Years Now, Ashkenazy Has Completed Cycles of Some of the Most Important Concertos (Mozart, Beethoven, Prokofiev, Bartók and Rachmaninov), as Well as an Extensive Amount of Solo Literature.two Of the Greatest Figures in 19th-century Piano Music Are Chopin and Schumann, and Music by Both Composers Has Featured, and Continues to Feature, in Ashkenazy's Recitals. He Has Recorded Almost all of Chopin Solo Works and During the Years 1984-95 Undertook a Major Survey of Schumann's Solo Literature (Some Works Including the Sinfonische Etüden, Fantasie, Kreisleriana and Humoreske) Ashkenazy Had Recorded Earlier in his Career). These Digital Recordings Are Now Presented as a Box Set for the First Time and Are an Invaluable Collection of the Composer's Most Important Keyboard Works, Performed by One of the Greatest Pianists of his Ge

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful music, great playing, even better price.......2007-07-03

I keep reading reviews that say things like: "Well others have played this piece better than Ashkenazy..." or "If you want a complete set of Schumann piano works then Ashkenazy is adequate and a good bargain..."

I may not have heard every version of these Schumann pieces played by every pianist in the 20th century, but I can say that Ashkenazy plays these pieces absolutely wonderfully- with both technical virtuosity and emotional depth. If you really want to cobble together a collection of the "absolute best" Schumann pieces, and spend a couple hundred dollars in the process, that's certainly your prerogative.

I just can't see how anyone can fault Ashkenazy's playing of these pieces as being lesser than others. To my ears, he plays them faultlessly. There are times during the recording where I want to stand up and applaud, others when I want to weep.

For about $5-$8 per disc (depending on who you purchase it from) you can have this wonderful music. Buy it now, and listen often!

4 out of 5 stars This is well worth the price.......2005-12-03

On the whole, this set is very good. true, ash's doesnt quite match up to pollini's recent dg david or kreis, but few do. There are still many gems here, some of which i rank as the top of the list in terms of interpretation. Firstly, waldszenen is giving an account here which in a word, is simply miraculous. Listen to how well he shapes the theme in the second piece, while most are struggling just to pull off the ferociously difficult chord jumps, yet ash does it with civility. Not even richter's fifities account is as well played or shaped. The kinderszenen is also marvelous, though not the best ever, or the second best or third(or fourth).....
But what every piece does give you, what ash himself seems to offer now, is a high standard of playing, though little over the top. But dont take that the wrong way, this set is a perfect way for anyone, even those pianophiles, to imburse or reimburse themselves in Schumann's wonderful world.
1.Wald-ash,haskil, richter, kempff
2.Kinder-moise, cortot, horsz, kempff
3.Davids-Giese, Pollini
4.Carnaval-Rach, Arrau
5.Sonata 1-Gilels, Ash
6. Symph Etudes- Richter, Richter, Richter, anda
7. Fant in C-Moise, Backhaus, Cohen, Richter
8. Humoreske-Richter-56 moscow, kempf. F

3 out of 5 stars Not Ashkenazy's forte (pun on forte intended).......2004-11-21

On the whole, Ashkenazy just does not seem to be a gifted interpreter of Schumann. These readings, to my ear, are heavy handed, pedantic, burdensome, and lacking in the mysterious joy that pervades so much of the work of the Romantic master. Some performances are OK. The Sinfonische Etuden would probably the best of the lot. But in works like Carnaval, the Novelletten, Faschingschwank aus Wien, and the Kinderszenen Ashkenazy to my liking totally misses the target.

I much prefer the more introspective approach of Arrau, or the wild and intriguing Pollini. Even Barenboim comes closer to the heart of Schumann than Ashkenazy.

The recorded sound is often disappointing also. The sound on some pieces is so muddy I thought the microphone was behind a wall.

5 out of 5 stars beautifully played, wonderful and overlooked pieces.......2003-04-29

This set is a remarkable value. Yes, you could choose some individual performances of certain works that are better, but for the price, this is a remarkable set. Ashkenazy is sympathetic to these wonderful and often overlooked solo piano compositions. Highly recommended.
Robert Schumann: Piano Works
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Robert Schumann: Piano Works
    Schumann , Haskil , Horowitz , and Rachmaninoff
    Manufacturer: Andante
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000066TXL
    Release Date: 2002-05-07
    Schumann: The Complete Piano Works (Box Set)
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Good for the rare pieces.....but...
    • Mystery Solved
    • Mystery meat
    Schumann: The Complete Piano Works (Box Set)

    Manufacturer: Nuova Era
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    DancesDances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by Robert SchumannAll Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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    ASIN: B000058THK
    Release Date: 2001-03-06

    Customer Reviews:

    2 out of 5 stars Good for the rare pieces.....but..........2006-11-08

    Overall, you will be hard up to find a more thoroughly complete two hand piano survey of Schumann's piano opus. However, for the more "popular" pieces such as the op 17, or the kinderszenen, these are decent to mediocre versions are best. They arent bad, Jorg Demus is a skilled pianist, though has always in my view been more successful in a supporting role, as evidenced by his masterful accompaniment in Dichterliebe and assorted Schubert lieder. If you are familiar with Richter's masterful Schumann interpretations-or Horowitz for many of the works, or Lupu, Argerich, these pale in comparison. If you are out for quantity-I would recommend the Ashkenazy set-though it is incomplete. Again, many of the works by schumann that you can only find here will only be of interest to the absolute Schumannaholic, which I am, but it is kind of a two way street because if you are a schumann madman, then you will know how third tier these performances truly are.

    5 out of 5 stars Mystery Solved.......2006-10-07

    First off, thanks to WTA for his extremely thoughtful and comprehensive review, which helped me decide to purchase this Nuova Era set (his reasoning about the unlikelihood that Demus would record this huge corpus again was especially insightful).

    I own the original 20-LP/6-volume Musical Heritage Society set issued between 1971 and 1973. Having seen the CD set in a store last year, I was puzzled about whether it was a transfer of these invaluable discs, which contain vast tracts of Schumann that you will be hard pressed to find elsewhere (included, for instance, are several posthumously issued works and even a few pieces played from unpublished manuscripts). WTA's review gave me enough clues to suspect that these discs were exactly what I'd been waiting for.

    Having just received them, I'm happy to confirm that they are indeed the MHS performances (minus most of the four-hand works, however; see below). I instantly recognized the character of the piano sound and the recording acoustic (both much improved on CD), and a quick check of rhetorical gestures in a sonata movement that I especially value in Demus's hands showed the CD and LP versions to be identical. MHS did not always provide track timings for individual sections of the big piano suites. But where such detail exists, respective CD and LP timings are consistently mere seconds apart -- easily the result of different engineering choices for silent lead-ins and lead-outs to each track.

    A further clue comes from a small note on the jewel-box tray inserts, indicating a 1989 digital remastering. I can think of no fully digital (DDD) recording that would be getting remastered so early in CD history. Anything from the '80s would almost certainly be making its first appearance in the new storage medium. Moreover, the sound has none of the hallmarks of DDD recordings (as WTA notes, for instance, Demus's recordings have detectable [but nonintrusive] background hiss).

    So for all these reasons, I feel confident in declaring that this set is basically the old MHS offering. There are two sad omissions, however:

    (1) The CD set includes all the solo pieces in the LP set, as well as a short, posthumously published F-minor Scherzo on CD 12 that MHS seems to have left out. Nuova Era, alas, omits the vast majority of the often-delightful four-hand works, for which Norman Shetler joined Demus (most of these items appeared in MHS's five-disc finale). The Sketches for Pedal Piano, Opp. 56 & 58, are here (perhaps because they were originally conceived for a now-forgotten solo instrument that had a pedalboard [Alkan was said to have been its greatest master]; on a modern instrument, Schumann's pedal-piano music thus takes two pianists), but -- shame on Nuova Era! -- Shetler gets no credit as the second pianist. If you'd like a fine but inexpensive tour of the four-hand output, try the three-disc VoxBox ("Schumann Complete Works For Piano 4-Hands") featuring Peter Frankl, Andras Schiff, et al.

    (2) The CD set lacks the superb MHS album notes by Douglas Townsend. Also missing is Demus's own illuminating statement about recording these works across a span of about three years. These are thoroughly digested interpretations: Demus not only memorized every note but also played every last work in concert. Complete recordings like this one are not necessarily commercial gimmicks, as some so carelessly assert. A serious and sensitive musician who takes on such a task will uncover secrets and interconnections that only exposure to a composer's full output in a given area can progressively disclose. As Demus explains (in Herman Adler's translation from the German), "Only by knowing Schumann's creative output in its totality has it been possible to uncover fresh facets in overfamiliar standard works. [. . .] In the music of no other composer do we find as many cross-relations and associations throughout his work. Schumann likes to quote himself as well as other composers, as did, later, his French brother-in-spirit, Claude Debussy. [. . .] Only knowledge of this entire universe will result in something I would call *Stilsicherheit* (stylistic assurance)."

    But let's not dwell on what's *not* here. As WTA observes, this is a deeply rewarding collection that every serious Schumann-lover will want to explore. Are these performances the last word on Schumann's poetic realm? Of course not: no such "last word" exists. The essential thing is that throughout this enormous journey, Demus never falsifies the music, and he plays with an honesty that can be far more illuminating than flashier approaches.

    So, Schumann-lovers, get this set as cheaply as you can -- but one way or another, get it while you can!

    5 out of 5 stars Mystery meat.......2006-04-10

    I don't think I've ever before experienced such frustration in trying to assess a product. Here a well-regarded and fairly well-known pianist sits down and records all (even that's up for grabs) the piano music of a pretty well-known and well-regarded composer and barely a peep out there in Internet land.

    What I did encounter after a lot of searching, and according to different reviewers who deigned to barely mention this bulky and hard-to-ignore boxed set, was this dopey basketful of professional opinions:

    1) The recording quality was poor according to one guy
    2) The piano was out of tune according to some editor who happened to also be a piano tuner
    3) The music was criminally recorded using a piano with beat hammers and strings
    4) Demus may or may not have recorded the set with a period instrument that also may have had beat hammers and strings
    5) Nobody should record Schumann on a period instrument according to another expert (without really letting us know if this was the case here)
    6) The interpretations were wooden
    7) The interpretations were fabulous despite the crappy sound and beat up old out-of-tune piano
    8) Nobody was sure if this was his complete Schumann recorded in the 1970s and released on Musical Heritage or these were new DDD recordings as listed

    OK--as the notes with this set absolutely stink and no one out in Internet land seems to have any consistent and coherent thing to say about it, this then is my judgement, based on careful listening and a few intelligent guesses.

    1) The interpretations are great, wonderful, really enjoyable, idiomatic--some might consider them slightly wooden because there's next-to-no pedal which leads me to believe it is a period instrument he's recorded on. This isn't Argerich slamming away at these so don't expect that. Yamaha fans will be disappointed. Demus clearly knows his Schumann and plays crisply and accurately.
    2) The sound quality, while hardly SACD, is just fine and, again if this is a period instrument and I sure tend to think so, what I'm hearing would be about right. I rather like the engineering as the result is intimate and warm
    3) Honestly, did Demus record all these in the 1970s without them getting any attention and then do it all over again in the 1980s just to get ignored again? I hear distinct tape hiss if I listen closely, this doesn't sound like a 1989 DDD recording (which the box claims it to be) which is probably why the recording has some warmth and (audible tape hiss)
    4) Who am I to argue with an editor/piano tuner but if this piano is out of tune I'm not noticing it one zot. Also, didn't they tune pianos a little differently way back in 1850 or so?

    SO--I'll guess this is the complete piano music of Robert Schumann (perhaps minus one small piece according to yet another miffed commentator, although he keeps talking about a 12 CD set and this has 13 discs!)recorded in the 1970s with Jorg Demus playing a piano built around 1850 or so with everything that implies. I'll also guess that a lot of reviewers out there, left to fend for themselves without some promotional sheet from the label, maybe without even free promo copies, were really reaching a bit. Even if I'm wrong I seem to be doing better than the second-guessing I found elsewhere and anyway the result is really enjoyable. I simply like this set a lot even if someday I may discover it is, in fact, Ernest Borgnine playing a badly tuned pool hall upright in 1953. Less than no stars to Nuovo Era for never seeming to get the presentation of this delightful set right--license it to Brilliant and they'll do it up properly for Pete's sake and maybe you'll actually sell a few. They might even be able to kick down that DDD tape hiss a bit. It's also too danged expensive given even the putative late recording date--it shouldn't be more than $120 under any circumstances. I got mine for less than $40 at a classical cut-outs and deletions place.

    Conclusion: This whole situation is sad. Jorg Demus is a great pianist and he obviously loves Schumann. Schumann's piano music is worth the effort. This should be a well-known and highly-regarded set and I'm happier with this than with any other big box of piano I may own, short of a Brahms set.
    Schumann: Kinderszenen/Carnaval/Faschingsschwank aus Wien
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Superior performances, showing both care and panache.
    • Enjoyable Schumann, well recorded
    • Excellent performance of Schumann's most popular pieces
    Schumann: Kinderszenen/Carnaval/Faschingsschwank aus Wien

    Manufacturer: Polygram Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    All Works by Robert SchumannAll Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    FantasiesFantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
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    Barenboim, DanielBarenboim, Daniel | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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    ASIN: B000001GE3
    Release Date: 1991-06-14

    Tracks:

    1. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 1. Von fremden Landern und Menschen
    2. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 2. Kuriose Geschichte
    3. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 3. Haschemann
    4. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 4. Bittendes Kind
    5. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 5. Gluckes genug
    6. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 6. Wichtige Begebenheit
    7. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 7. Traumerei
    8. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 8. Am Kamin
    9. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 9. Ritter vom Steckenpferd
    10. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 10. Fast zu ernst
    11. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 11. Furchtenmachen
    12. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 12. Kind im Einschlummern
    13. Kinderszenen Op. 15. Scenes From Childhood: 13. Der Dichter spricht
    14. Faschingsschwank aus Wein Op.26. Carnival Jest From Vienna: I. Allegro
    15. Faschingsschwank aus Wein Op.26. Carnival Jest From Vienna: II. Romanze
    16. Faschingsschwank aus Wein Op.26. Carnival Jest From Vienna: III. Scherzino
    17. Faschingsschwank aus Wein Op.26. Carnival Jest From Vienna: IV. Intermezzo
    18. Faschingsschwank aus Wein Op.26. Carnival Jest From Vienna: V. Finale
    19. Carnaval Op. 9: 1. Preambule
    20. Carnaval Op. 9: 2. Pierrot
    21. Carnaval Op. 9: 3. Arlequin
    22. Carnaval Op. 9: 4. Valse noble
    23. Carnaval Op. 9: 5. Eusebius
    24. Carnaval Op. 9: 6. Florestan
    25. Carnaval Op. 9: 7. Coquette
    26. Carnaval Op. 9: 8. Replique
    27. Carnaval Op. 9: 9. Papillons
    28. Carnaval Op. 9: 10. A.S.C.H. - S.C.H.A.
    29. Carnaval Op. 9: 11. Chiarina
    30. Carnaval Op. 9: 12. Chopin
    31. Carnaval Op. 9: 13. Estrella
    32. Carnaval Op. 9: 14. Reconnaissance
    33. Carnaval Op. 9: 15. Pantalon et Colombine
    34. Carnaval Op. 9: 16. Valse allemande
    35. Carnaval Op. 9: 17. Paganini, Intermezzo
    36. Carnaval Op. 9: 18. Aveu
    37. Carnaval Op. 9: 19. Promenade
    38. Carnaval Op. 9: 20. Pause
    39. Carnaval Op. 9: 21. Marche des

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Superior performances, showing both care and panache........2004-08-29

    Daniel Barenboim's performances of Robert Schumann's most popular solo piano pieces--"Kinderszenen," "Carnaval," and "Faschingsschwank aus Wien"--are exquisite, showing that care and panache can exist side-by-side. This joyous and touching music--revealing no hint of the mental darkness that would eventually engulf its composer--are a high-water mark of German Romanticism, and Barenboim does them full justice in these beautiful, idiomatic performances. Particularly considering this disc's mid-range price, it's a must-have for any Schumann fan.

    5 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Schumann, well recorded.......2004-04-12

    Overall, these are excellent performance of some of Schumann's most positive and joyful music. Barenboim, prone as his is to slow tempos, finds it in himself to discard the tendency toward introspection in the light and enjoyable Kinderszenen.
    The two festive pieces, the op. 26 Faschingschwank aus Wien (Carnival Jest from Vienna) and the op 9 Carnaval, are more approachable than much of Schumann's piano music, but not quite as simple as the Kinderszenen. Barenboim is a little more what we expect from him these two pieces, never in a hurry, always searching for the unseen nuances in the melody. But, he is never excessive in his exploration, the music still has an exciting momentum about it.
    I always found it curious that Dietrich Fischer Dieskau chose Christoph Eschenbach as his accompaniest for his cycle of the Schumann Lieder (no longer available I believe) when he already had a great relationship with Barenboim in the leider of Hugo Wolf. This disk only adds to my curiosity, given the great range of moods Barenboim proves himself more than up to the task for.
    All and all, one of my favorite solo piano disks.

    5 out of 5 stars Excellent performance of Schumann's most popular pieces.......2002-05-15

    Kinderszenen and Carnaval are among the most popular pieces for solo piano written by Schumann. This disc offers a lovely performance of these 2 pieces along with the Vienna Carnaval by Daniel Barenboim (from the end of 70-s).

    Barenboim's Carnaval is flawless. Everything comes in right proportions - tempo, moods, characters for each piece and for the whole drive of the cycle.
    Vienna Carnaval gets a very poetic and charming interpretation. As for the Kinderszenen, I can't say that this is the ultimate one, to my mind it's too smooth and sometimes the contrasts between the pieces could be more sharp, but still in fact it is very skillful and full of good taste.

    If you're not familiar to Schumann's piano pieces - this CD is the best one to start with.
    In other case - you'll just get much pleasure. This music will call you back again and again.

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    9. Tchaikovsky: Symphony No5, Op64; Beethoven: Symphony in Bf No4, Op60
    10. Telemann: Tafelmusik; Concerto for violin No3

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