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Schumann: Album For The Young / Vladimir Feltsman
Nimbus

Schumann: Album For The Young / Vladimir Feltsman

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Details

Composer
SCHUMANN, ROBERT
Artist
Vladimir Feltsman
Format
CD
Label
Nimbus
Released
Mar 11, 2016
Catalog #
NI6307
UPC
0710357630729

About

This is in many ways an easy recording to review as everything about it - presentation, sound and artistry - is pleasing. Vladimir Feltsman has already displayed the mastery and versatility of his art in a series of first rate recordings for Nimbus; now this issue may take its place in his discography as a highly desirable modern version of music not especially richly represented in the catalogue.

The Album for the Young is a collection of 43 short piano pieces originally written by Schumann for his three daughters as a result of his dissatisfaction with the practice material then available. They are much more than technical exercises, being exquisite little portraits which may be played for pleasure by children and adults alike; this is music which brings to mind the old aphorism about Mozart’s piano music being “too easy for amateurs and too difficult for professionals”. The first eighteen are simpler, the remainder, “für Erwachsenere” (for more grown up ones) more complex. The shortest,” The Wild Horseman”, lasts only thirty-five seconds, the longest, “Wintertime II, just over four minutes, but by and large each takes only a minute or two and their variety makes the 76 minutes’ duration of the recital pass quickly.

This is essentially “Hausmusik” for private, domestic pleasure and consumption, not performance in a hall and thus suits the intimacy afforded by a recording, especially if listened to on earphones, when Feltsman’s tonal nuances and dynamic subtleties emerge clearly. The sound is typical of Nimbus’ engineering: warm, slightly reverberant and not too close to the piano. It also reveals the perceptible, and in this case quite endearing, trait common to many interpreters, of occasionally providing a background vocalise obbligato which is not by any means too distracting but rather indicative of the delight Feltsman takes in the melodies he is playing.

The music is charming, full of rippling melody and engaging caprice. The simple, opening melody is a nursery tune reminiscent of Mozart; there follows a medley of neatly characterised miniatures mostly on a seasonal or rustic theme. The subject matter of some, like the “Hunting Song”, is instantly apparent to the ear, others less so, so it would have been nice if Nimbus had provided English translations of the individual titles for non-German speakers. Without resorting to a dictionary or Wikipedia, the casual listener will be left wondering what titles such as “Erinnerung” (Remembrance/Memento/Souvenir/Keepsake/Reminiscence – take your pick), “Weinlesezeit” (Grape Harvest), “Schnitterliedchen” ( The Reaper’s Song) and “Erntliedchen” (Harvest Song) mean.

As Feltsman remarks in his notes, you cannot imagine this music being played on anything other than a piano, such is its typically Romantic reliance upon colour and texture, but a few pieces such as “Little Étude” glance backwards to Bach, only to be immediately succeeded by a piece of arch-Romantic sensibility in “Spring Song”.

A delightful recital from one of the best pianists active today.

-- Ralph Moore, MusicWeb International

Tracklist 43 tracks

  1. 1 No. 1. Melodie (Melody) 00:57
    Track
    1
    Title
    No. 1. Melodie (Melody)
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  2. 2 No. 2. Soldatenmarsch (Soldier's March) 00:48
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 2. Soldatenmarsch (Soldier's March)
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  3. 3 No. 3. Trallerliedchen (A Song to Hum) 00:50
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 3. Trallerliedchen (A Song to Hum)
    Duration
    00:50
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  4. 4 No. 4. Ein Choral (A Chorale) 01:54
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 4. Ein Choral (A Chorale)
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  5. 5 No. 5. Stuckchen (Little Piece) 00:48
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 5. Stuckchen (Little Piece)
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  6. 6 No. 6. Armes Waisenkind (Orphan Child) 01:16
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 6. Armes Waisenkind (Orphan Child)
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  7. 7 No. 7. Jagerliedchen (Little Hunting Song) 01:12
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 7. Jagerliedchen (Little Hunting Song)
    Duration
    01:12
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  8. 8 No. 8. Wilder Reiter (Wild Horseman) 00:35
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 8. Wilder Reiter (Wild Horseman)
    Duration
    00:35
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  9. 9 No. 9. Volksliedchen 01:38
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 9. Volksliedchen
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  10. 10 No. 10. Frohlicher Landmann, von der Arbeit zuruckkehrend (The Happy Peasant) 00:40
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 10. Frohlicher Landmann, von der Arbeit zuruckkehrend (The Happy Peasant)
    Duration
    00:40
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  11. 11 No. 11. Sizilianisch (Siciliana) 01:33
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 11. Sizilianisch (Siciliana)
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  12. 12 No. 12. Knecht Ruprecht (Santa Claus) 01:54
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 12. Knecht Ruprecht (Santa Claus)
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  13. 13 No. 13. Mai, lieber Mai, bald bist du wieder da! (May, Sweet May) 02:23
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 13. Mai, lieber Mai, bald bist du wieder da! (May, Sweet May)
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  14. 14 No. 14. Kleine Studie (Short Study) 01:19
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 14. Kleine Studie (Short Study)
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  15. 15 No. 15. Fruhlingsgesang (Song of Spring) 02:32
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 15. Fruhlingsgesang (Song of Spring)
    Duration
    02:32
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  16. 16 No. 16. Erster Verlust (First Loss) 01:16
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 16. Erster Verlust (First Loss)
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  17. 17 No. 17. Kleiner Morgenwanderer (A Little Morning Walk) 01:16
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 17. Kleiner Morgenwanderer (A Little Morning Walk)
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  18. 18 No. 18. Schnitterliedchen (Song of the Reaper) 00:46
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 18. Schnitterliedchen (Song of the Reaper)
    Duration
    00:46
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  19. 19 No. 19. Kleine Romanze 01:09
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 19. Kleine Romanze
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  20. 20 No. 20. Landliches Lied 00:43
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 20. Landliches Lied
    Duration
    00:43
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  21. 21 No. 21. — 01:10
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 21. —
    Duration
    01:10
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  22. 22 No. 22. Rundgesang 01:53
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 22. Rundgesang
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  23. 23 No. 23. Reiterstuck 01:23
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 23. Reiterstuck
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  24. 24 No. 24. Ernteliedchen 00:59
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 24. Ernteliedchen
    Duration
    00:59
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  25. 25 No. 25. Nachklange aus dem Theater 00:57
    Track
    25
    Title
    No. 25. Nachklange aus dem Theater
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  26. 26 No. 26. — 02:20
    Track
    26
    Title
    No. 26. —
    Duration
    02:20
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  27. 27 No. 27. Canonisches Liedchen 01:35
    Track
    27
    Title
    No. 27. Canonisches Liedchen
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  28. 28 No. 28. Erinnerung 01:53
    Track
    28
    Title
    No. 28. Erinnerung
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  29. 29 No. 29. Fremder Mann 02:37
    Track
    29
    Title
    No. 29. Fremder Mann
    Duration
    02:37
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  30. 30 No. 30. — 03:05
    Track
    30
    Title
    No. 30. —
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  31. 31 No. 31. Kriegslied 01:20
    Track
    31
    Title
    No. 31. Kriegslied
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  32. 32 No. 32. Sheherazade 03:14
    Track
    32
    Title
    No. 32. Sheherazade
    Duration
    03:14
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  33. 33 No. 33. Weinlesezeit - frohliche Zeit! 01:45
    Track
    33
    Title
    No. 33. Weinlesezeit - frohliche Zeit!
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  34. 34 No. 34. Thema 02:17
    Track
    34
    Title
    No. 34. Thema
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  35. 35 No. 35. Mignon 03:01
    Track
    35
    Title
    No. 35. Mignon
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  36. 36 No. 36. Lied italienischer Marinari 01:29
    Track
    36
    Title
    No. 36. Lied italienischer Marinari
    Duration
    01:29
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  37. 37 No. 37. Matrosenlied 03:20
    Track
    37
    Title
    No. 37. Matrosenlied
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  38. 38 No. 38. Winterszeit I 02:23
    Track
    38
    Title
    No. 38. Winterszeit I
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  39. 39 No. 39. Winterszeit II 04:07
    Track
    39
    Title
    No. 39. Winterszeit II
    Duration
    04:07
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  40. 40 No. 40. Kleine Fuge: Fugue 02:37
    Track
    40
    Title
    No. 40. Kleine Fuge: Fugue
    Duration
    02:37
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  41. 41 No. 41. Nordisches Lied 01:41
    Track
    41
    Title
    No. 41. Nordisches Lied
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  42. 42 No. 42. Figurierter Choral 02:40
    Track
    42
    Title
    No. 42. Figurierter Choral
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman
  43. 43 No. 43. Sylversterlied 02:36
    Track
    43
    Title
    No. 43. Sylversterlied
    Duration
    02:36
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Vladimir Feltsman