Piano Concertos by Schumann and Kuhlau

Track Listings

1. Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: Allegro affettuoso

2. Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: Intermezzo (Andantino grazioso)

3. Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: Allegro vivace

4. Saint-Saëns: Wedding Cake for Piano and Orchestra in A flat Major Op. 76

5. Kuhlau Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 7: Allegro

6. Kuhlau Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 7: Adagio

7. Kuhlau Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 7: Rondo-Allegro

Editorial Reviews
MusicWeb, January 2004
"a musician of significant stature."

Musical Opinion, Sept/Oct 2003
"a true artist doing what she does best."

Album Description
Robert Schumann spent his early years composing for piano, an instrument he favoured throughout his career. In 1841, Schumann began composing a one-movement Fantasy for piano and orchestra. The unorthodox genre was not received favourably by publishers who turned it away suggesting the addition of a further two movements. Schumann didn’t take the advice immediately, but eventually revised the work to become his one and only Piano Concerto, Op. 54, completed in c. 1845.

While compiling this CD series of piano concertos recorded by Felicja Blumental, we discovered some charming shorter pieces, which we wanted to make available. One such piece is Saint-Saëns’ Wedding Cake (Op. 76). This lively, dance-like caprice valse was composed in 1886 as a wedding present for pianist, Caroline de Serres.

Sadly, Kuhlau only wrote two concertos, Concertino for 2 French horns (Op. 45) and Piano Concerto, Op. 7 performed here. The Danish composer, who unfortunately lost his eye in an accident at the age of 7, dedicated this work to his friend, the composer C.E.F. Weyse. It is one of his more significant works and it’s structure is similar to Beethoven’s early concertos, whom he met during his many travels.

Piano Concertos by Schumann and Kuhlau

Tracks:

Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: Allegro affettuoso
Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: Intermezzo (Andantino grazioso)
Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: Allegro vivace
Saint-Sa: Wedding Cake for Piano and Orchestra in A flat Major Op. 76
Kuhlau Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 7: Allegro
Kuhlau Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 7: Adagio
Kuhlau Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 7: Rondo-Allegro

Album Description

Robert Schumann spent his early years composing for piano, an instrument he favoured throughout his career. In 1841, Schumann began composing a one-movement Fantasy for piano and orchestra. The unorthodox genre was not received favourably by publishers who turned it away suggesting the addition of a further two movements. Schumann didn't take the advice immediately, but eventually revised the work to become his one and only Piano Concerto, Op. 54, completed in c. 1845.

While compiling this CD series of piano concertos recorded by Felicja Blumental, we discovered some charming shorter pieces, which we wanted to make available. One such piece is Saint-Saëns' Wedding Cake (Op. 76). This lively, dance-like caprice valse was composed in 1886 as a wedding present for pianist, Caroline de Serres.

Sadly, Kuhlau only wrote two concertos, Concertino for 2 French horns (Op. 45) and Piano Concerto, Op. 7 performed here. The Danish composer, who unfortunately lost his eye in an accident at the age of 7, dedicated this work to his friend, the composer C.E.F. Weyse. It is one of his more significant works and it's structure is similar to Beethoven's early concertos, whom he met during his many travels.

Customer Reviews:

Better than you might think.......2006-08-14

I bought this CD to give to a colleague who wanted the Kuhlau concerto. I had never heard it before and had no frame of reference for performance, but Felicja Blumental's playing seemed never less than quite satisfactory. I knew that Blumental had recorded all sorts of piano and orchestra oddities during the LP era for marginal labels, but was not prepared for such a pleasant listening experience. I turned to her Schumann concerto -- something quite well known--and again her pianism seemed warm, incisive, and often poetic.

The orchestral accompaniment varies in quality, and the provincial orchestras used are occasionally not up to the task. The Schumann and Kuhlau appear to be in stereo; the small filler (Saint-Saëns' Wedding Cake) seem in mono.

Recommended.

Music Review:

Music Review

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Dirty Work

1. Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: Allegro affettuoso
2. Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: Intermezzo (Andantino grazioso)
3. Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: Allegro vivace
4. Saint-Saëns: Wedding Cake for Piano and Orchestra in A flat Major Op. 76
5. Kuhlau Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 7: Allegro
6. Kuhlau Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 7: Adagio
7. Kuhlau Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 7: Rondo-Allegro