Search - Schumann, Schiff :: Arabeske / Davidsbundlertanze

Still One of the Great Schumann Recordings

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 10/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Andras Schiff demonstrated his empathy and understanding of Schumann's most accomplished solo piano music in this riveting CD recorded nearly 9 years ago for Teldec. It truly ranks along with his Beethoven piano concerti Teldec recordings as among his finest in the 1990s. I have heard other recordings of the Symphonische Etuden and Davidsbundlertanze from the likes of Brendel and Pollini, to name but a few, but Schiff's performances remain the most compelling to me. His performances of both the Blumenstuck and Arabeske are splendid too. All of these demonstrate his keen musical scholarship coupled with his brilliant playing which I believe is possessed with much emotional as well as intellectual intensity. Without question, Schiff is one of our most thoughtful, yet still emotionally riveting, pianists."

Revised review

johnpiano2 | Pittsburgh, PA USA | 04/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A year later, I'd like to add a few words. Of course one's choice for a piano cd depends on what you already have and what exactly you want. If you want the coupling of Davidsbundlertanze and the Etudes, this is the top choice. But if you want one or the other: for the Davidsbundlertanze, I recommend Boris Berezovsky, one of the very top young pianist alive right now; if you want to hear the etudes the way they would sounds if God performed them, buy Richter's performance. By the way, I no longer trust Classic Cd magazine's top 50 list."