Schumann Piano Works

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A collection that will give great pleasure. Sample it anywhere and there can be no mistaking who this is – you know great pianists by their sound.
Kempff was one of the most distinguished German... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 2nd May 2001
Catalogue No: 4713122
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Series: Collectors Edition
Length: 4 hours 55 minutes

Excerpt, Schumann: Papillons, Op. 2

Work length13:09

$1.10

$1.50

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1967-01-06
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

Introduzione. Moderato - No. 1 - 12

Track length13:09

$1.10

$1.50

Schumann: Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6

Work length36:45

$19.80

$27.00

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1967-01-06
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

No. 1 Lebhaft

Track length1:24

$1.10

$1.50

No. 2 Innig

Track length1:29

$1.10

$1.50

No. 3 Etwas hahnbüchen

Track length1:31

$1.10

$1.50

No. 4 Ungeduldig

Track length0:51

$1.10

$1.50

No. 5 Einfach

Track length1:50

$1.10

$1.50

No. 6 Sehr rasch

Track length2:04

$1.10

$1.50

No. 7 Nicht schnell

Track length3:44

$1.10

$1.50

No. 8 Frisch

Track length1:03

$1.10

$1.50

No. 9 Lebhaft

Track length1:43

$1.10

$1.50

No. 10 Balladenmässig, sehr rasch

Track length1:38

$1.10

$1.50

No. 11 Einfach

Track length1:47

$1.10

$1.50

No. 12 Mit Humor

Track length0:51

$1.10

$1.50

No. 13 Wild und lustig

Track length3:18

$1.10

$1.50

No. 14 Zart und singend

Track length2:58

$1.10

$1.50

No. 15 Frisch

Track length1:57

$1.10

$1.50

No. 16 Mit gutem Humor

Track length1:57

$1.10

$1.50

No. 17 Wie aus der Ferne

Track length4:26

$1.10

$1.50

No. 18 Nicht schnell

Track length2:14

$1.10

$1.50

Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9

Work length26:50

$23.10

$31.50

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1971-03-16
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

No. 1 Préambule

Track length2:22

$1.10

$1.50

No. 2 Pierrot

Track length0:54

$1.10

$1.50

No. 3 Arlequin

Track length0:41

$1.10

$1.50

No. 4 Valse noble

Track length1:08

$1.10

$1.50

No. 5 Eusebius

Track length1:33

$1.10

$1.50

No. 6 Florestan

Track length0:59

$1.10

$1.50

No. 7 Coquette

Track length1:08

$1.10

$1.50

No. 8 Réplique

Track length0:47

$1.10

$1.50

No. 9 Papillons

Track length0:48

$1.10

$1.50

No. 10 A.S.C.H.-S.C.H.A. (Lettres dansantes)

Track length1:00

$1.10

$1.50

No. 11 Chiarina

Track length0:47

$1.10

$1.50

No. 12 Chopin

Track length1:21

$1.10

$1.50

No. 13 Estrella

Track length0:35

$1.10

$1.50

No. 14 Reconnaissance

Track length1:52

$1.10

$1.50

XV. Pantalon et Colombine

Track length1:08

$1.10

$1.50

XVIa. Valse Allemande

Track length1:01

$1.10

$1.50

XVIb. Intermezzo: Paganini

Track length1:22

$1.10

$1.50

XVIII. Aveu. Passionato

Track length0:52

$1.10

$1.50

XIX. Promenade. Comodo

Track length1:49

$1.10

$1.50

XX. Pause. Vivo

Track length0:23

$1.10

$1.50

XXI. Marche des "Davidsbündler" contre les Philistins

Track length4:20

$1.10

$1.50

Schumann: Études symphoniques, Op. 13

Work length26:28

$14.30

$19.50

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1972-02-24
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

Theme. Andante

Track length1:11

$1.10

$1.50

Etude I

Track length1:12

$1.10

$1.50

Etude II

Track length3:36

$1.10

$1.50

Etude III

Track length1:24

$1.10

$1.50

Etude IV

Track length1:05

$1.10

$1.50

Etude V

Track length1:31

$1.10

$1.50

Etude VI

Track length1:05

$1.10

$1.50

Etude VII

Track length1:25

$1.10

$1.50

Etude VIII

Track length1:51

$1.10

$1.50

Etude IX

Track length0:46

$1.10

$1.50

Etude X

Track length1:25

$1.10

$1.50

Etude XI

Track length3:00

$1.10

$1.50

Etude XII (Finale)

Track length6:57

$1.10

$1.50

Schumann: Kinderszenen, Op. 15

Work length17:52

$14.30

$19.50

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1971-03-16
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

No. 1 Von fremden Ländern und Menschen

Track length1:37

$1.10

$1.50

No. 2 Kuriose Geschichte

Track length1:01

$1.10

$1.50

No. 3 Hasche-Mann

Track length0:36

$1.10

$1.50

No. 4 Bittendes Kind

Track length0:51

$1.10

$1.50

No. 5 Glückes genug

Track length0:45

$1.10

$1.50

No. 6 Wichtige Begebenheit

Track length0:56

$1.10

$1.50

No. 7 Träumerei

Track length2:26

$1.10

$1.50

No. 8 Am Kamin

Track length1:06

$1.10

$1.50

No. 9 Ritter vom Steckenpferd

Track length0:48

$1.10

$1.50

No. 10 Fast zu ernst

Track length1:38

$1.10

$1.50

No. 11 Fürchtenmachen

Track length1:59

$1.10

$1.50

No. 12 Kind im Einschlummern

Track length2:02

$1.10

$1.50

No. 13 Der Dichter spricht

Track length2:07

$1.10

$1.50

Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16

Work length31:45

$8.80

$12.00

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1972-02-24
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

No. 1. Äusserst bewegt

Track length2:45

$1.10

$1.50

No. 2 Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch - Intermezzo I. Sehr lebhaft - Tempo I - Intermezzo II. Etwas bewegter - Tempo I

Track length7:40

$1.10

$1.50

No. 3 Sehr aufgeregt

Track length3:46

$1.10

$1.50

No. 4 Sehr langsam

Track length3:45

$1.10

$1.50

No. 5 Sehr lebhaft

Track length3:29

$1.10

$1.50

No. 6 Sehr langsam

Track length4:15

$1.10

$1.50

No. 7 Sehr rasch

Track length2:25

$1.10

$1.50

No. 8 Schnell und spielend

Track length3:40

$1.10

$1.50

Schumann: Fantasie in C major, Op. 17

Work length31:36

$3.30

$4.50

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1971-03-16
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

I. Durchaus fantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen - Im Legenden-Ton

Track length12:00

$1.10

$1.50

II. Mäßig. Durchaus energisch - Etwas langsamer - Vielbewegter

Track length8:49

$1.10

$1.50

III. Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten - Etwas bewegter

Track length10:47

$1.10

$1.50

Schumann: Arabeske in C major, Op. 18

Work length6:25

$1.10

$1.50

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1972-02-25
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

Leicht und zart - Minore I. Etwas langsamer - Minore II. Etwas langsamer - Zum Schluss (Coda). Langsamer

Track length6:25

$1.10

$1.50

Schumann: Humoreske, Op. 20

Work length27:24

$4.40

$6.00

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1973-02-26
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

Einfach - Sehr rasch und leicht - Noch rascher - Erstes Tempo - Wie im Anfang

Track length5:29

$1.10

$1.50

Hastig - Nach und nach immer lebhafter und stärker - Wie vorher - Adagio

Track length5:01

$1.10

$1.50

Einfach und zart - Intermezzo - (Wie vorher -) Innig

Track length7:15

$1.10

$1.50

Sehr lebhaft - Mit einigem Pomp - Zum Beschluß - Allegro

Track length9:39

$1.10

$1.50

Excerpt, Schumann: Bunte Blätter, Op. 99

Work length3:19

$1.10

$1.50

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1972-02-25
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

IX. Novellette

Track length3:19

$1.10

$1.50

Schumann: Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22

Work length19:11

$4.40

$6.00

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1973-02-26
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

I. So rasch wie möglich - Schneller - Noch schneller

Track length6:42

$1.10

$1.50

II. Andantino

Track length4:45

$1.10

$1.50

III. Scherzo (Sehr rasch und markiert)

Track length1:50

$1.10

$1.50

IV. Rondo (Presto - Etwas langsamer - Prestissimo, quasi cadenza - Immer schneller und schneller)

Track length5:54

$1.10

$1.50

Schumann: Nachtstücke, Op. 23

Work length17:27

$4.40

$6.00

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1973-02-26
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

No. 1 Mehr langsam, oft zurückhaltend

Track length5:29

$1.10

$1.50

No. 2 Markiert und lebhaft

Track length4:52

$1.10

$1.50

No. 3 Mit grosser Lebhaftigkeit

Track length3:46

$1.10

$1.50

No. 4 Einfach

Track length3:20

$1.10

$1.50

Schumann: Romances (3), Op. 28

Work length15:27

$3.30

$4.50

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1972-02-25
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

No. 1 in B-Flat Minor (Sehr markiert)

Track length3:54

$1.10

$1.50

No. 2 in F-Sharp Major. Einfach

Track length3:51

$1.10

$1.50

No. 3 in B Major (Sehr markiert)

Track length7:42

$1.10

$1.50

Schumann: Waldszenen, Op. 82

Work length22:53

$9.90

$13.50

Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
Recorded: 1973-02-26
Recording Venue: Beethovensaal, Hannover

No. 1 Eintritt

Track length2:23

$1.10

$1.50

No. 2 Jäger auf der Lauer

Track length1:26

$1.10

$1.50

No. 3 Einsame Blumen

Track length2:19

$1.10

$1.50

No. 4 Verrufene Stelle

Track length3:16

$1.10

$1.50

No. 5 Freundliche Landschaft

Track length1:26

$1.10

$1.50

No. 6 Herberge

Track length2:18

$1.10

$1.50

No. 7 Vogel als Prophet

Track length3:23

$1.10

$1.50

No. 8 Jagdlied

Track length2:44

$1.10

$1.50

No. 9 Abschied

Track length3:38

$1.10

$1.50

Reviews
Explore

Reviews

2010

A collection that will give great pleasure. Sample it anywhere and there can be no mistaking who this is – you know great pianists by their sound.
Kempff was one of the most distinguished German pianists of the last century, blossoming through two decades in the Austro-German repertory after the death of Schnabel and Edwin Fischer, but he never carried the flame quite as they did. Performing bravura pieces didn't interest him, so the Toccata, the Concert-Studiesafter Paganini, Op 10, and the Abegg Variations aren't here. Nevertheless it's a good selection, lacking only the Fantasy Pieces, Op 12, to give a rounded picture of the phenomenal explosion of Schumann's creativity for the piano that took place between the ages of 20 and 29.
Kempff's special quality seems to be a songfulness and cantabile style which is in danger of becoming a forgotten art nowadays. Listening to him in Schumann, it's as if a wind is blowing through, rising and falling, sweeping incident along and carrying everything forward: song, dance, stories, poems, moods, portraits, parades of characters, visions of landscape, recollections.
Few players have matched his infallible touch with the way the music holds together.
As pianism his Carnaval may not leave you astonished, but it's immaculately characterised: festive, buoyant, irresistible in movement, the comings and goings of the masked personages and the guest appearances of 'Chopin' and 'Paganini' all spot on. There's no single right way to play this masterpiece, but his is vivid.
When he made the earliest of these recordings he was already 71; the last are from his 78th year.
In the later ones you notice more weight on the keys and perhaps a reduced inclination to be volatile; but he has kept his technique in trim, and continues to sound at ease with the instrument.
The difficult numbers in the Davidsbündlertänze are hard for every pianist, but Kempff doesn't see them as virtuoso challenges to be confronted and dispatched. Always the music is paramount, and beautiful sound, and a control of voices under the fingers that seem to be following Schumann instinctively in the exploration of the piano's potential. The opening of Kreisleriana hangs fire as if he were feeling his way into it but the rest is magnificent and thrillingly projected.
When at his best you have the impression his insights aren't only musical but brought to bear on every area of Schumann's imagination. All the big works have this definition and can be counted among the best on record. The Fantasy comes high on the list, perhaps top, as does the undervalued Humoreske. He's a guide to Schumann you should not be without, authoritative and companionable, balanced and most human.

Schumann Piano Works

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