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The Young Schumann: Carnaval, Papillons, Intermezzi, Abegg Variations
Charles Owen (piano)
Awards:
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalists 2024
Overall, this playing is meticulous, clean and restrained, a saner rendition of Robert Schumann’s own mercurial, alternatingly introspective and exuberant character. But even if Owen’s Schumann...
The Young Schumann: Carnaval, Papillons, Intermezzi, Abegg Variations
Charles Owen (piano)
Purchase product
Awards:
-
Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalists 2024
Overall, this playing is meticulous, clean and restrained, a saner rendition of Robert Schumann’s own mercurial, alternatingly introspective and exuberant character. But even if Owen’s Schumann...
About
The Young Schumann, the new release by British pianist Charles Owen, is a musical narrative of Robert Schumann's early career, featuring works written in the 1830s when the composer was in his 20s. His first two published works, Abegg Variations and Papillons, the impetuous six Intermezzi, Op. 4, and the characterful Carnaval, Op. 9, are all fuelled by some of Schumann's compositional hallmarks: his imagination and attraction to the fantastical, his love of ciphers and cryptograms, and his frequent quoting of each work within the others.
Contents and tracklist
Spotlight on this release
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Charles Owen on Schumann and the piano
Charles Owen, described by Gramophone magazine as 'one of the finest pianists of his generation', has recorded a new album dedicated to the music of The Young Schumann, on Avie Records. Matthew Ash enjoyed a chat with Charles ahead of the album release on 15th November, about the new recordings, his development as a musician, the two-way nature of teaching, and pianos.
Awards and reviews
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Presto Recordings of the YearFinalists 2024
January 2025
Overall, this playing is meticulous, clean and restrained, a saner rendition of Robert Schumann’s own mercurial, alternatingly introspective and exuberant character. But even if Owen’s Schumann is better-behaved than we expect, the beautifully judged voicing and colours are a delight.
The two suites, Papillons and Carnaval, are, of course, Schumann’s most beloved piano works , and Owen treats them as old friends. In both, an infinitely calibrated dynamic at the quiet end of the spectrum is on full display.
Owen's account is competitive and characterful, with good contrasts throughout. Highlights are the playful “Coquette” and “Papillons”, the warm lyricism of “Eusebius” and “Valse noble”. the especially lovely “Promenade” and the fast and super-light “Reconnaissance”
