Classical Music

Classical Music

During the Romantic era, night was associated with unease and pleasure, foreboding and dreams, comfort and loneliness. Night is a common theme of Robert Schumann’s life and indeed his works. Bo Wiget has compiled a cycle from the composer’s hundreds of songs, leading us from dusk through the night up until the morning. The songs, most of which were originally composed for voice and piano, are given a nocturnal touch through the wealth of color imparted by the two cellos. The unique arrangements for the Tolkar cello duo and Andrea Chudak broaden the spectrum: now close to the original, now transporting the listener into unfamiliar terrain through which Schumann’s melodies wander like ghostly revenants. Here and there, the soprano receives vocal backup from singing cellist. Now and then, the soprano takes up a cello, adding to the resonant backdrop of cello sounds. The three musicians provide a modern perspective of Schumann’s musical gems, giving insight into a time when nights were still dark, dreams and reality were interlaced by darkness and the night opened up unfamiliar dimensions.

Schumann, R.: Dichterliebe, Op. 48 / Liederkreis, Op. 39

Pianist Anton Kuerti has performed with leading orchestras around the globe and has appeared in recital in more than forty countries. In Canada alone he has appeared in 150 communities and performed with every professional orchestra in the country, including 41 concerts with the Toronto Symphony. Kuerti has recorded every Beethoven concerto and sonata, the Brahms and Schumann concertos, and all of the Schubert sonatas. He is the recipient of the prestigious Leventritt Award, which he won in 1957, as well as a Banff Centre National Arts Award, the Schumann Prize of the Schumann Gesellschaft, and Canada’s Governor General’s Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award. Here he performs two works by Schumann, the composer on whose compositions he always hung his hat: the Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, and the Fantasie in C Major. “One of the truly great pianists of this century.” (CD Review) “The best pianist currently playing” (Fanfare)

Schumann: The 4 Symphonies

This new release is the thirteenth volume in DOREMI’s Svaiatoslav Richter Archives series. Considered one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century, Svaiatoslav Richter was known for his virtuosic technique, vast repertoire, and the depth of his interpretations. On this volume, he performs Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 alongside the USSR State Orchestra, George Georgescu conducting. The performance was recorded live in Moscow in 1958. The other performances are of Etudes on Caprices by Paganini, Marchenbilder for Viola and Piano, and 3 Fantasiestucke for Cello and Piano recorded in 1986, 1985, and 1969, respectively. He is joined on this volume by cellist Pierre Fournier and violist Yuri Bashmet.

Goethe' Faust is one of the highest peaks of German Romantic poetry, and fascinated composers across Europe: Berlioz, Liszt and Gounod were just some of the many entranced by it's visionary power.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Marina Samson-Primachenko is one of the most outstanding representatives of the Russian piano school. Among her other accomplishments, she was a student of Heinrich Neuhaus. In her past, she was considered a miraculous child, and she started acting at the age of four. She currently acts pedagogically at the Schola cantorum in Paris and often conducts master classes in Europe, along with well-known authors. She also likes the rare repertoire – for example, she has chosen to perform the preserved autographs of Borise Pasternaka. For two her new piano albums with ArcoDiva she has chosen to interpret the romantic poet Robert Schumann. This second installment includes Schumann’s Carnaval, op. 9, Blumenstuck, Op. 19, along with other well-known works and less-performed pieces.