Composer’s Weekend: Robert Schumann

The Europakonzert has been a tradition of the Berlin Philharmonic since 1991. The musicians commemorate the anniversary of the orchestra's founding on May 1, 1882 by playing in different European cities every year. This concert was recorded at St. Mary's Church in Kraków, Poland, where Bernard Haitink wielded the baton over the Berlin Philharmonic. The concert features Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38.

In this performance from the 25th anniversary edition of the Verbier Festival, Seong-Jin Cho pays tribute to Debussy on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the French composer’s death. The program includes Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, Op.12, which are rarely featured in concert programs. This half-hour long cycle is a challenge for the performer who has to demonstrate an extreme versatility of moods ranging from the dark “Des Abends”, the angst-filled “In der Nacht” to the virtuous “Traumeswirren”. Recorded at the 2018 edition of the Verbier Festival in Switzerland.

Evgeny Kissin enchants with a magnificent piano recital of works by Chopin, Schumann and Debussy at the 25th anniversary edition of the Swiss Verbier Festival in 2018. The Russian pianist's recitals are always a highlight of the Verbier festival. Always played to a full house, they are anticipated by the audience. The program features Schumann’s seldom played Sonata No. 3 Op. 14. Schumann composed the piece in 1836 but revised it in 1853. Kissin carefully scrutinized both versions and has allowed himself to borrow the best from both. The 30-minute long work is challenging both physically and technically, ending in a spectacular finale.

The Ébène Quartet, consisting of Daishin Kashimoto (violin), Lise Berthaud (viola), François Salque (cello), and Eric Le Sage (piano), performs Robert Schumann's Piano Quartet, Op. 47. The quartet was completed in 1842 and has been described as the "creative double" of Schumann's Piano Quintet, which is also in the key of E-flat major. It is perhaps the most frequently performed piano quartets in the repertoire. The work was composed during Schumann’s “Chamber Music Year,” in which he concentrated a whole year on the genre, writing three string quartets and a piano quintet in addition to this piano quartet. This performance is recorded at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Denmark.

Tabea Zimmermann (viola) and Francesco Piemontesi (piano) performed live at Schinkel Pavillon in Berlin on April 17, 2020. The program features Robert Schumann's Märchenbilder, Op. 113.

Hannu Lintu conducts the Gulbenkian Orchestra in a Finnish flavoured concert program. Daniil Trifonov (1991) is star soloist in Schumann’s Piano Concerto, Op. 54, which was premiered in 1841 by Clara Wieck, wife of the composer. Trifonov rose to fame after winning prizes at both the Tchaikovsky International Chopin competition in Moscow as well as the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw. Trifonov has been called "arguably today's leading classical virtuoso,” and “without question the most astounding pianist of our age." This concert is recorded at the Grand Auditorium of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation of Lisbon, in 2018.

Tabea Zimmermann (viola) and Francesco Piemontesi (piano) performed live at Schinkel Pavillon in Berlin on April 17, 2020. The program features Robert Schumann's Phantasiestücke for clarinet and piano, Op. 73.