ELISABETH SCHUMANN - Icon : Silver Thread of Song (2011) 6xCD BOX-SET / MONO / APE (image+.cue), lossless

The German soprano Elisabeth Schumann was one of the finest lyric sopranos of the 20th Century. She made her professional debut in Hamburg in 1909 and died in 1952, having given her last public concert the previous year. In 1985 the eminent vocal expert Alan Blyth wrote of her: ‘No artist so endeared herself to her public as Elisabeth Schumann. The charm of her manner is legendary; so is the attraction of her slivery voice and outgiving style. Whether in her operatic portrayals, her Lieder or her operetta offerings, she captivated her audiences.’

CDs 1 and 2 contain an unrivalled collection of Schumann's famous recordings of songs by Franz Schubert, the centrepiece of which is Der Hirt auf dem Felsen (‘The Shepherd on the Rock’) with Reginald Kell as the distinguished clarinet soloist. Every one of these songs is illuminated by the singer's unique style of vocal clarity and brightness as well as rhythmic bouyancy and spontaniety.

CD 3 brings together a number of Elisabeth Schumann's recordings of songs by her namesake Robert Schumann, including the famous cycle for female voice: Frauenliebe und-leben. Also on this CD are a group of songs by Brahms including several from the delightful ‘49 Deutsche Volkslieder’

CD 4 begins with Schumann's elegant performances of several soprano pieces by Bach and Handel, which are followed by a variety of contrasting works by Mozart including the main arias for Susanna and Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and both of Zerlina's solos from Don Giovanni. The Mozart programme continues with an engaging performance of the ‘Alleluja’ from Exsultate, jubilate, a small group of songs and then finally the Benedictus from Mozart’s final work, the moving Requiem in D minor.

CD 5 is a mixed Lieder recital starting with songs by Haydn and Beethoven, then a collection of Hugo Wolf and ending with a group of Richard Strauss compositions, all touched by Schumann's own personal vocal magic.
The final CD opens with three extracts from Der Rosenkavalier that amply demonstrate Elisabeth Schumann's radiant interpretation of Sophie that was acclaimed in theatres around the world. Then we hear Schumann gloriously floating the soprano line in the Quintet from Die Meistersinger, followed by a collection of charming English songs, all sung with impeccable pronunciation. The disc ends with some of the most entertaining performances of arias from Viennese operettas ever put on record that will guarantee to bring a smile of delight to even the most critical listener.

 

KURTÁG : Neun Stücke für Viola Solo; Jelek, Op. 5; Hommage à R. Sch.; SCHUMANN : Märchenbilder, Op. 113; Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 (1995) FLAC (tracks), lossless

BRAHMS, SCHUMANN - Violin Concertos (Joshua Bell) (1996) APE (image+.cue), lossless

In his early thirties, Bell is already a big-name violinist. Hearing him in these two works affirms the correctness of that coveted status. He has technique, a gorgeous, if slightly icy, tone, and a mature interpretive sense. In short, he has all the tools necessary to continue the rise to the top of his trade.
Bell's reading of the Brahms may not be revelatory (whose of late has been, though?), but neither will it detract from his meteoric ascent. This is a fine account, with intelligent phrasing, scrupulous attention to detail, a subtle, well-judged use of portamento, and a technique that can summon both a feline finesse for moments of delicacy and a lean, lionesque attack for assertive passages. The cadenza (Bell's own devising) is surprisingly interesting and expectedly well-played (track 1; beginning at 17:24). The delicious swagger in Bell's rendering of the double-stopped theme in the finale is another highlight here. Recent recordings of some merit in the Brahms have been the Zukerman/Mehta (RCA) and Mullova/Abbado (Philips). I've had a predilection for the Kremer/Bernstein (DG) from the early digital era.
But the Schumann ... This may be the primary reason to purchase this disc. As the reader may know, this work from 1853 languished in obscurity, unperformed until 1937, owing to the artistically myopic vision of Joseph Joachim, whose violinistic virtuosity was surpassed only by his musicological stupidity in surpressing the work after Schumann's incarceration in an insane asylum where the composer spent the last two years of his tragic life. Luckily Joachim didn't destroy or lose the score poor Schumann had written for him, but placed it instead in the Prussian State Library from where his great-niece, violinist Jelly d'Aranyi, rescued it in the 1930s. It has steadily grown in popularity over the years and is now rightly entering the standard repertory.
Bell declares his special affinity for this work in a note included in the album booklet, and his committed playing corroborates his strong feelings. He catches those elusive, emotionally neutral elements in the first movement with the appropriate classical grace and muscle. He renders the beautiful second movement with tenderness, and never succumbs to any tendency to overstate the main theme's sweetness with too much vibrato or other affectation. Bell reads the finale with energy and wit, but doesn't skirt the quirkiness (vague hints of the composer's insanity shortly to come or just typical Schumann?).
I don't want to make it sound as though this disc is strictly Bell's show. Christoph von Dohnanyi leads the Cleveland Orchestra with an insightful baton throughout. He draws crisp, powerful playing from his Clevelanders in the Brahms and just as alert and incisive support in the Schumann. And, oh, how he so beguilingly reads the the opening orchestral crescendo of the Schumann, teasing out neurotic indecision, mystery, beauty--all in just four measures! This is a moment to savor! Good notes and excellent sound by London. Recommended. by Robert Cummings 

ROBERT SCHUMANN : Piano Works (Wilhelm Kempff) 5xCD Box Set (2010) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

MARTHA ARGERICH - Martha Argerich Edition : Chamber Music (2011) 8xCD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827):

Violin Sonata No.9 in A major, op.94 “Kreutzer

César Franck (1822-1890):

Violin Sonata in A major

Itzhak Perlman – violin, Martha Argerich – piano

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Piano Quartet in C major WoO36 No.3

Clarinet Trio in B flat major, op.11

Piano Trio in D major, op.70 No.1 “Ghost”

Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849):

Intoduction and Polonaise brillante in C major, op.3

Renaud Capuçon – violin, Lida Chen – viola,
Gautier Capuçon – cello, Marek Denemark – clarinet,
Mark Drobinsky – cello, Mischa Maisky – cello, Martha Argerich – piano

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Violin Sonata No.1 in A minor, op.105

Violin Sonata No.2 in D minor, op.121

Fantasiestücke op.73 (version for flugelhorn and piano)

Märchenbilder, op.113

Géza Hosszu-Legocky – violin, Renaud Capuçon –
violin, Sergei Nakariakov – flugelhorn, Nobuko Imai – viola,
Martha Argerich – piano

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Piano Quintet in E flat major, op.44

Piano Quartet in E flat major, op.47

Andante and Variations in B flat major for two pianos, horn and two cellos, op.46

Dora Schwarzberg – violin, Renaud Capuçon – violin,
Nora Romanoff-Schwarzberg – viola, Mark Drobinsky – cello,
Lida Chen – viola, Gautier Capuçon – cello, Alexandre Rabinovitch – piano ,
Marie Luise Neunecker – horn, Natalia Gutman – cello,
Mischa Maisky – cello, Martha Argerich – piano

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Piano Trio in G major, Hob.XV:25 “Gipsy Trio”

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)

Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, op.49

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Fantasiestücke, op.88

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Cello Sonata

“La plus que lente” – valse

“Minstrels” – Prélude No.12

Renaud Capuçon – violin, Gautier Capuçon – cello,
Mischa Maisky – cello, Martha Argerich – piano

César Franck (1822-1890)

Cello Sonata in A (transcription of the Violin Sonata)

Béla Bartók (1881-1945)

Violin Sonata No.1 Sz75

Contrasts Sz111 for violin, clarinet and piano

Mischa Maisky – cello, Renaud Capuçon – violin,
Chantal Juillet – violin, Michael Collins – clarinet,
Martha Argerich – piano

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Piano Quintet in G minor, op.57

Piano trio No.2 in E minor, op.67

Leoš Janáček (1854-1928)

Concertino for piano, two violins, viola, clarinet, horn and bassoon

Renaud Capuçon – violin, Allissa Margulis – violin, Lida Chen – viola,
Mischa Maisky – cello, Maxim Vengerov – violin, Gautier Capuçon – cello,
Lucy Hall – violin, Nora Romanoff-Schwarzberg – viola,
Corrado Giuffredi – clarinet, Zora Slokar – horn,
Vincent Godel – bassoon, Martha Argerich – piano

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Piano Quintet in E flat major, op.44

Violin Sonata No.2 in D minor, op.121

Fantasiestücke, op.73

Dora Schwarzberg – violin, Lucy Hall – violin, Nobuko Imai – viola,
Mischa Maisky – cello, Natalia Gutman – cello, Martha Argerich – piano