Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Robert Schumann, Maurizio Pollini :: Maurizio Pollini ~ Schubert - Wanderer-Fantasie · Schumann - Fantasie op. 17

Pollini at his best (which can't be beat!)

Christopher Smith | Atlanta, Georgia | 10/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To my mind, this recording is one of Pollini's most outstanding accomplishments--up there with his early recordings of the Chopin Etudes, Preludes and Polonaises, and his still unsurpassed recordings of the final five Beethoven piano sonatas. Pollini's concentration is formidable, and it seems to me that with his flawless technique he can accomplish anything at the keyboard. I have two other recordings of the Wanderer Fantasy (Brendel, Richter) and admire them as much as Pollini's; all three divine the narrative flow of the four movements that comprise this piece, and their respective interpretations, with all their subtle differences, are all worth having and comparing. But its the explosive passion of Schumann's Fantasy that sets this recording apart. To my mind this must be a very difficult piece to play and interpret, since it's so moody--stormy and gently lyrical and then back to stormy again within the space of a few bars. This is where Pollini's control over a piece comes into play. He never loses his grip on Schumann's developing drama, so that the triumphant (and overwhelmingly climactic) third movement seems as inevitable as it is beautiful. I haven't liked some of Pollini's recordings from the last decade, but this one from the early 70's reminds me why he continues to be one of my favorite pianists."

Best among the best!

Patrick Pierre-Louis | Delmas, Haiti | 04/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This disc comes first in my discography of Schubert. But in its first release, the Wanderer-Fantasie was coupled with Sonata D 845. This owed us the best possible compilation of two incomparable interpretations for two great Schubert's works. On the other hand, Schumann's Fantasia was coupled with Sonata No. 1. As a result, we had two equally outstanding recordings. In this new release, Pollini has no rival in "Wanderer-Fantasie" and even Perrahia might sound prosaic facing such implacable rigor and balance. As to Schumann's Fantasia, Richter and Perrahia are, in my view, the best alternative but Pollini knows how to combine poetic expression and scrupulous respect of structures so that the global architecture of the work never dilutes. In the third movement, this impression of dilution present in Perrahia's reading is patent in Richter's rendering because both artists gave primacy to the expression of the evanescent character of feelings. Pollini never looses sight of the lines while keeping the tension alive from beginning to end. In this perspective, his interpretation might be more satisfactory.Perrahia also couples Schubert's and Schumann's Fantasias on the same disc (CBS). Every lover of those works should have both discs."

Decent Schubert, but Great Schumann from Pollini

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 09/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an odd coupling of Pollini's early recordings in the Deutsche Grammophon Originals series. Pollini's version of Schubert's "Wanderer-Fantasie" was marred by technical problems, which this digitally remastered version doesn't quite overcome. Unfortunately, his version isn't nearly as compelling as those I've heard from the likes of Kempff, yet Pollini's performance remains technically proficient. The real treasure has to be Pollini's exceptional performance of Schumann's Fantasia; his most recent recordings of Schumann's music for Deutsche Grammophon only enhanced his reputation. Pollini's playing of the Fantasia is replete with warmth as well as splendid technique."