Martin Helmchen – Schumann: Novelleten & Gesänge der Frühe (2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Martin Helmchen – Schumann: Novelleten & Gesänge der Frühe (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:10:22 minutes | 1,21 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Alpha Classics

Robert Schumann between early freshness, amorous devotion – and later, prayerful intimacy, in between three pieces by his later wife Clara Wieck: this is how the program of the present ALPHA CLASSICS CD by Martin Helmchen can be outlined. A quasi-biographical program: departure, marital dedication and inspiration as well as the greatest thoughtfulness in view of a last happy phase; not yet under the sign of illness and sorrow.
Schumann was twenty-eight years old when he composed a remarkable cycle of eight pieces for piano in 1838, the Novelletten Op. 21. This impressive and highly virtuosic collection was dedicated to the German-Russian pianist Adolf von Henselt (1814-1889), whose spectacular playing and technique were often compared to Franz Liszt, and not by chance. The Novelletten, which the composer described as “long, bizarre tales,” were written at about the same time as the incomparably more famous

Schumann was twenty-eight years old when he composed in 1838 a cycle of eight pieces for piano, the Novelletten, Op. 21. This impressive, highly virtuosic set was dedicated to the pianist Adolf von Henselt, whose spectacular playing and technique were often compared to those of Liszt. Presented by the composer as “long, bizarre tales”, the Novelletten were written around the same time as the Kinderszenen, two years before his marriage to Clara, to whom he confided: “I have written a frightful amount of music for you in the last three weeks – light-hearted pieces, Egmont stories, family scenes with fathers, a wedding, in short, the most amiable things”.

Martin Helmchen has taken up this cycle (with the addition of Robert’s Gesänge der Frühe and three excerpts from Clara’s Soirées musicales) with all the passion and virtuosity for which he is famed. He was determined to record this programme on a Bechstein pianoforte, in order to capture as many of the colours of this flamboyant musical kaleidoscope as possible.

Tracklist:

01. Martin Helmchen – I. Markiert und kräftig  (04:52)
02. Martin Helmchen – IIa. Äusserst rasch und mit Bravour  (01:42)
03. Martin Helmchen – IIb. Intermezzo (Etwas langsamer, durchaus zart) (02:39)
04. Martin Helmchen – IIc. Erstes Tempo  (01:40)
05. Martin Helmchen – IIIa. Leicht und mit Humor  (01:38)
06. Martin Helmchen – IIIb. Intermezzo (Rasch und wild) (02:02)
07. Martin Helmchen – IIIc. Erstes Tempo  (01:13)
08. Martin Helmchen – IV. Ballmäßig. Sehr munter (03:29)
09. Martin Helmchen – V. Rauschend und festlich (08:50)
10. Martin Helmchen – VI. Sehr lebhaft, mit vielem Humor (04:17)
11. Martin Helmchen – VII. Äußerst rasch (03:05)
12. Martin Helmchen – VIIIa. Sehr lebhaft  (01:03)
13. Martin Helmchen – VIIIb. Trio I (Noch lebhafter) (01:36)
14. Martin Helmchen – VIIIc. Trio II (Hell und lustig) (02:07)
15. Martin Helmchen – VIIId Fortsetzung (Einfach und gesangvoll) (01:51)
16. Martin Helmchen – VIIIe. Fortsetzung und Schluss (Munter, nicht zu rasch) (05:31)
17. Martin Helmchen – Soirées musicales, Op. 6: II. Notturno (Andante con moto) (05:07)
18. Martin Helmchen – Soirées musicales, Op. 6: V. Mazurka (Con moto) (02:13)
19. Martin Helmchen – Soirées musicales, Op. 6: I. Toccatina (Presto) (02:20)
20. Martin Helmchen – I. Im ruhigen Tempo (02:48)
21. Martin Helmchen – II. Belebt, nicht zu rasch (01:46)
22. Martin Helmchen – III. Lebhaft (02:25)
23. Martin Helmchen – IV. Bewegt (02:19)
24. Martin Helmchen – V. Im Anfange ruhiges, im Verlauf bewegtes Tempo (03:38)

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