Search - Theodor Furchtegott Kirchner, Robert Schumann :: Kirchner: Klavierquartett, Op. 84; Schumann: Klavierquartett, Op. 47

Negligible Kirchner; Outdone Schumann; Shamefully Short Timi

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 12/05/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This CD has three big strikes against it (aside from it being available only from Amazon's associated vendors for an extortionate price):



1) Theodor Furchtegott Kirchner's Piano Quartet is not particularly distinguished (although the Scherzo has some interesting trailblazing mixtures of meters [3/4, 5/4, 2/4]. There are some nice moments, as in the lyrical second movement, but overall the construction is creaky and contains much too-dense counterpoint that outweighs the musical ideas involved.



2) There are many other much better played and recorded performances of Schumann's Op. 47 Piano Quartet, such as that by Ma, Ax, Laredo, and Isaac Stern Schumann: Piano Quartet in Ef Op 47; Beethoven: Quartet in Ef Op 16; or by members of the Emerson Quartet with Menahem Pressler Schumann: Op. Nos. 44 & 47; or by the Florestan Trio with Thomas Riebl Schumann: Piano Trios, Op. 88, Op. 110; Piano Quartet, Op. 47.



3) The total timing for this CD is only 47 minutes. Another piano quartet could have been included, but frankly the playing is undistinguished enough that it probably wouldn't have added much to my estimation of the disc.



Pass this one by.



Scott Morrison"