Search - Robert Schumann, Daniela Ruso :: Schumann: Intermezzi Phantasiestücke

Great Schumann cd

Amy | 08/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This wonderful cd starts with Schumann's 8 songs from Fantasiestucke Op. 12 which he composed in 1836. The gentle D flat major Des Abends (In the Evening) is followed by the well known F minor Aufschwung (Soaring). Warum? (Why?), again in D flat major, is gently brief, to be followed by the capricious Grillen (Whims) in the same key. The second book opens with Schumann's own favorite In der Nacht (In the Night), in F minor with a major central section. Fabel (Story), in G major, is suitably varied in mood as the narrative unfolds, followed by the rapid F major Traumes Wirren (Troubled Dreams). The book ends with an F major piece, Ende vom Lied (End of the Song), marked Mit gutem Humor and moving to a livelier B flat section before the return of the first material and key and a hushed chordal coda. Next, is the rarely recorded 6 Intermezzos that Schumann composed the following year. As a German composer, critic, and music journalist, Robert Schumann was one of the driving forces of the young Romantic movement in Germany. And like many in his generation, Schumann did not seem destined to become a composer, let alone one who would be so influential in the development of a new style. But music became all important to Schumann, and he displayed multiple talents as a performer, composer, and literary exponent of Romanticism, championing new composers and their works and influencing the musical tastes of a generation. This is another wonderful cd at an amazing price with the pianist Daniela Ruso.



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