Schumann: Album For The Young / Vladimir Feltsman

$15.99
Label
Nimbus
Release Date
March 11, 2016
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      SCHUMANN, ROBERT
    • PERFORMER
      Vladimir Feltsman
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      March 11, 2016
    • UPC
      0710357630729
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      NI6307
    • LABEL
      Nimbus
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Instrumental
    Works ⌄

    1. No. 1. Melodie (Melody)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    2. No. 2. Soldatenmarsch (Soldier's March)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    3. No. 3. Trallerliedchen (A Song to Hum)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    4. No. 4. Ein Choral (A Chorale)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    5. No. 5. Stuckchen (Little Piece)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    6. No. 6. Armes Waisenkind (Orphan Child)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    7. No. 7. Jagerliedchen (Little Hunting Song)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    8. No. 8. Wilder Reiter (Wild Horseman)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    9. No. 9. Volksliedchen

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    10. No. 10. Frohlicher Landmann, von der Arbeit zuruckkehrend (The Happy Peasant)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    11. No. 11. Sizilianisch (Siciliana)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    12. No. 12. Knecht Ruprecht (Santa Claus)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    13. No. 13. Mai, lieber Mai, bald bist du wieder da! (May, Sweet May)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    14. No. 14. Kleine Studie (Short Study)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    15. No. 15. Fruhlingsgesang (Song of Spring)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    16. No. 16. Erster Verlust (First Loss)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    17. No. 17. Kleiner Morgenwanderer (A Little Morning Walk)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    18. No. 18. Schnitterliedchen (Song of the Reaper)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    19. No. 19. Kleine Romanze

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    20. No. 20. Landliches Lied

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    21. No. 21. —

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    22. No. 22. Rundgesang

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    23. No. 23. Reiterstuck

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    24. No. 24. Ernteliedchen

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    25. No. 25. Nachklange aus dem Theater

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    26. No. 26. —

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    27. No. 27. Canonisches Liedchen

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    28. No. 28. Erinnerung

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    29. No. 29. Fremder Mann

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    30. No. 30. —

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    31. No. 31. Kriegslied

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    32. No. 32. Sheherazade

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    33. No. 33. Weinlesezeit - frohliche Zeit!

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    34. No. 34. Thema

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    35. No. 35. Mignon

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    36. No. 36. Lied italienischer Marinari

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    37. No. 37. Matrosenlied

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    38. No. 38. Winterszeit I

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    39. No. 39. Winterszeit II

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    40. No. 40. Kleine Fuge: Fugue

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    41. No. 41. Nordisches Lied

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    42. No. 42. Figurierter Choral

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman

    43. No. 43. Sylversterlied

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Vladimir Feltsman


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