Search - Robert Schumann, Florestan Trio, Susan Tomes :: Schumann: Piano Trios

Must Have. Essential.

Daniel R. Greenfield | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | 09/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Robert Schumann was arguably the quintessential romantic. His romanticism was not mawkish sentimentalism but dwelt in the same heroic realms as Keats, Shelley, Goethe, and Holderlin. The trios on this disk were written during the most creative period of his short life, following upon his marriage to Clara. The striking thing about Schumann's work, and on this disk especially, is the total openness with which he lays bare his psyche. There is no posturing, no self-indulgence, no self-pitying; there is just a very earnest sincerity to express the core of his being. Listening to this music you begin to sense the enormous sensitivity of this man, and the incredible honesty and dignity he possessed. Florestan delivers a flawless performance with just the right amount of romantic sentiment as would be proper for this early period of German romanticism. Sound quality, as always on Hyperion, is first-rate. This is essential music if you collect classical."

I enjoyed this CD very much

Adnan Arduman (adnana@turk.net) | Istanbul, Turkey | 06/27/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD was recommended by GRAMOPHONE magazine and I think Florestan Trio deserves it fully. Excellent performances of Schumann's two Piano Trios. Very life like, well balanced and natural recording is a bonus."

Highly recommended!

Daniel R. Greenfield | 05/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Schumann's later chamber works are often put down as being somehow less inspired than, say, his early piano music and the chamber works of 1842 (the great Quintet in particular). Listening to these performances, you wonder why. The two trios, written within a relatively short amount of time from each other, make for an interesting comparison: the first (in D minor) is darker, more tragic, whereas the second one (in F major) is altogether brighter and more outgoing. Both have exceptionally beautiful slow movements, though for me the closing movement of the second Trio doesn't come close to the corresponding movement in the first Trio, which I think is one of the most thrilling things in the entire chamber-music repertoire. However, the second Trio does make up for this with some beautiful interplay between the string instruments in the first movement, plus a very original third movement--in place of the Scherzo Schumann wrote a gentle barcarolle that is filled with counterpoint, a fascinating example of Schumann's love of counterpoint.I'm very thankful to the Florestan Trio's recording of these works, because I think they show what an outstanding recording can do to make us re-evaluate the merits of previously underappreciated works. They certainly did that for me. They combine technical polish with much imagination in their playing. They are totally committed and sound genuinely in love with these works, which is never to be taken for granted in this repertoire. Special honors to Susan Tomes for her exceptionally sensitive piano playing and her keen ear for balance. The recording itself is demonstration quality."