Track Listing

1. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: 1. Allegro affettuoso
2. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: 2. Intermezzo. Andantino - attacca:
3. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: 3. Allegro vivace
4. Introduction and Allegro appassionato, for piano & orchestra in G major, Op. 92
5. Noveletten (8), for piano, Op. 21: No. 1, in F
6. Toccata for piano in C major, Op. 7
7. Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), for piano, Op. 82: Eintritt. Nicht zu schnell
8. Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), for piano, Op. 82: J�ger auf der Lauer. H�chst lebhaft
9. Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), for piano, Op. 82: Einsame Blumen. Einfach
10. Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), for piano, Op. 82: Verrufene Stelle. Ziemlich langsam
11. Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), for piano, Op. 82: Freundliche Landschaft. Schnell
12. Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), for piano, Op. 82: Herberge. M��ig
13. Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), for piano, Op. 82: Vogel als Prophet. Langsam, sehr zart
14. Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), for piano, Op. 82: Jagdlied. Rasch, kr�ftig
15. Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), for piano, Op. 82: Abschied. Nicht zu schnell

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8082 in Music
• Released on: 1996-04-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.com essential recording
If you want to judge a pianist's versatility, listen to his or her recording of the Schumann Piano Concerto. It requires virtually everything a pianist should have to offer: poetry, virtuosity, expansive expression alternating with poised restraint. What a glorious test piece this is. Richter, who was famous for his Schumann playing, passes every test here. His meltingly beautiful delivery of Schumann's melodies touches the heart, and his execution of the most difficult passages is so smooth and effortless that it never calls a bit of attention to itself. In this piece and the Introduction and Allegro, the excellent orchestra also covers itself with glory. The solo pieces are no less wonderful. The way Richter plays the difficult Toccata is almost scary in its combination of power and velocity. The Forest Scenes is a slightly older recording (1956) than the others (1958), but it still sounds lovely. Catch Richter's whirlwind playing of "Traumes-Wirren" and you'll understand right away why other pianists had such respect for his technique. Listen to his "Prophet Bird" and he'll touch your heart. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews

Best of the best
This recording of Schumann's concerto is simply the best: the orchestra is very good (despite reviews to the contrary), the soloist-orchestra interplay is superb, and Richter's playing is divine.

If you listen to this recording repeatedly, and then compare it with other good or very good recordings (Lipatti, Serkin, Moravec, Staier), you'll notice the differences: you will be aware how these latter pianists search for the correct interpretation of certain passages, and often they succeed. You'll be also aware, however, that Richter does not interpret. He simply plays it the way Schumann must have intended the work, i.e. the way it has to be played. It's not a matter of technique - in this respect, many(but not too many) pianists are as good as Richter. It's just like Schumann's spirit has penetrated Richter's nervous system and guides his fingers.

When you're not listening to the concerto for a long time, and then try to "play" it in your head, you will reckognize that it "sounds" like the Richter-Rowicki recording. And you will notice flaws in all other recordings.

Summarized: Best recording of Richter, best recording of Schumann's piano concerto, and my all-time favorite recording.

"Flowing Like Oil..."
Mozart, addressing future performers of his Piano Concertos is quoted as saying "...just make it flow like oil!" Schumann, like Mozart, takes a predominantly lyrical approach in this concerto and the music portays itself as one inspired stream of genius. It is. And in the hands of Richter, this stream soon becomes a raging rapid of emotion. Flows like oil? Yes!

& I thought Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1 was my favorite!
That is...until I heard the first few notes of this Schumann concerto. I was literally in tears the first 50 times I listened to the 1st movement of this concerto. Personally I'm not a big fan of Schumann's work, but this is the absolute best piano concerto, and it is a "must buy" for any piano lover. This recording also substantiated my love for Richter's playing.