Search - Robert Schumann, Michael Endres :: Robert Schumann: Piano Works

"The Touch of Greatness"?

Paul S. Rottenberg | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 05/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Touch of Greatness"?



In its October 2001 issue, the BBC Music Magazine published a review by critic Jeremy Siepmann called "The Touch of Greatness" of a cd on the Arte Nova label of German pianist Michael Endres playing Schumann's "Humoresque," "Toccata," "Gesange der Fruhe," and "Kinderszenen." Mr. Siepmann assigned both the performances and the sound on this disc five stars, and this cd was "Pick of the Month" in the Instrumental section, also receiving a notice of Recording of Special Merit.



Now, OEHMS has released Mr. Endres's performances of the above works along with several other Schumann piano works on a three-cd set. The Arte Nova cd seems to be unavailable, so this present set provides us the only chance right now to hear Michael Endres in Schumann. True, the three-cd set is a bit pricey, but if you happen to see it in your local library (or, perhaps you are the purchaser for a library?) it certainly merits attention. As Mr. Siepmann says in his review, "Michael Endres is an artist to celebrate. I've heard no contemporary pianist produce more beautiful sounds than he does here." Now, assuming the present performances on this OEHMS release are identical to the original ones on Arte Nova, or that they are as well performed, this would be a notable recording for any piano lover's library as well as for any public library.

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