Schumann: Kinderszenen 2/2 (Alexis Weissenberg)

from the "Life of Robert Schumann" By Wilhelm Joseph von Wasielewski (trans. by Abby Langdon Alger):

The " Kinderscenen" (Op. 15)... are poetic and retrospective views of childhood by a grown-up person, but by no means pieces for children. Events and occurrences in the world of children, musically expressed in a pure and perfectly child-like way, form a series of tone-pictures; and, in most cases, it requires but a slight degree of imagination to follow the poet, who rather whispers than speaks a few shy words, begging indulgence for his darlings. The "Kinderscenen" testify to a rare delicacy and sensibility of perception of the naive and tender; in them a note is struck with the most poetic strains, which will resound long after the quicksands of time have swallowed up all the imitations of this composition which have since arisen.

Schumann..was always indifferent to the meaner objects of ambition, a true idealist, who worked for his cause, not for any personal reward of wealth or reputation. Now he became more dreamy and reserved, more hesitating in the conduct of affairs, more given to long fits of silence and contemplation.

Like those strange psychological cases of which we occasionally read, he only began really to live when he could shut his door upon the world and enter into the kingdom of his dreams. Schubert found relaxation after his day's work in the noisy good-fellowship of the cafe; Schumann used to sit apart, with his face to the wall, solitary, oblivious, and preoccupied. Mendelssohn was the life of every company into which he entered; Schumann's favourite form of conversation was what Heine calls 'une conversation Anglaise.' Everybody knows the story of his two hours' silent tete-a-tete with his friend Henrietta Voigt, and his departure with a pressure of the hand and the words, 'To-day we have perfectly understood one another.'

Indeed, even in these early days may be found evident traces of that mysticism which was afterwards to bring his life to such a tragical termination. The half-humorous, half-pathetic figures which he had created for his companionship were already withdrawing his mind from the realities of earth, and turning it towards that Undiscovered Country on the borders of which he spent his later years.

Alexis Weissenberg, piano

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Robert-Schumann
• Kinderszenen
• Alexis-Weissenberg
• piano
• Scenes-of-Childhood
• Romantic
• classical-music

[sofiayearwood]

wonderful

[brunthroath6912]

... two words.. Brendel's rendition.

[unpodimusica1]

I'm ashamed to say I used to underrate Schumann before; now that his music is being played more frequently this year of his bicentenary, I'm delighted to say I got to know it better and love it. Thanks for sharing!

[luv6pup]

as always, amazing!

[jorgeliebermann]

@japanesesweet I do not like how Alexis plays Schumann.but I accept that he is a big name in music..Bach,Rachmaninoff and some Chopin works are beutiful in his hands.

[japanesesweet]

I like the way he sometimes adjusts the dynamic markings in the score to aid clarity. eg.the 6th piece he cuts out the decrescendos and changes F to FF and then plays the middle section quietly when it`s marked loud.

[arash505]

it's very beautiful!

[UncleNathan]

A phenomenal technician, Weissenberg always got to the heart of the music. One of the greatest! Thanks for posting this!

[Nibelungenfrau]

so wonderful music - I love Schumann's Music

[sophiah88]

Five *s