Schumann - Cello Concerto [Brantelid/ Schonwandt-Danish National Symphony Orchestra] 

At one time i didn't think much of Cello Concertos outside of Dvorak and Elgar, and it's only been somewhat recently that i've changed my mind, Schumann / Saint-Saens / Lalo all bring something exciting to the table, so it's good to hear these works again through a new disc from a young Cellist, this comes on EMI's 'Debut' series, showcasing new talent that don't normally get the opportunity to record a disc, and then made available to the public at a medium price to tempt buyers to explore, as well as hopefully launch a recording career, Schumann's Cello Concerto is a strong work, not as good as his Piano Concerto, but certainly stronger than his Violin Concerto, there's some great tunes lurking around every corner in this Concerto, and i played this exact disc / work in 2011 [14th October 2011].

Andreas Brantelid is Scandinavian, i think he's Danish, i guess he's now 25, very much a youngster still, and he recorded this work in 2007 at 20 years old, the photography throughout is truly excellent [by Christoffer Askman], showing Brantelid on a couch, lovely pose, bow in hand, but it's the colour schemes that bring the whole thing to life, red and purple really make the colours sing, and it all looks visually appealing.

It's amazing how Schumann can create a Concerto which is not well known like a Violin or Piano Concerto, and yet still be chock full of good tunes, on this disc this Concerto lasts nearly 24 minutes, and yet this 'significant' central movement only last just over 4 minutes, but it's the significant glue that binds the first and last movements together, the whole Concerto is played without a break, it's this little 'Langsam' imp that i just loved today, it's hard to officially know where it begins, there's a sort of slow bridge at the end of the first movement, which prepares us for the second movement proper, gently pulsing pizzicato from the strings, create the backdrop for the cello to to spin it's lyrical song in F Major [0:00-0:50], the pizzicatos remain a feature throughout, then there comes a central section where Brantelid duets with the principle Cellist [1:39-2:20], at the end you can hear the music is preparing for the final movement, and it gets more stormy, the movement is a lovely oasis in the middle of a large desert, how amazing something so major can be achieved in 4 minutes.

Here's Andreas Brantelid playing the Schumann Concerto on YouTube, the second movement starts at [11:10].

Schumann - Cello Concerto [Harrell/ Marriner-The Cleveland Orchestra] 

As far as Cello Concerto 'compilations' go, this is a real favourite of mine, three great Cello Concertos on one disc, and if you leave behind probably the greatest two Cello Concertos [Dvorak & Elgar], then these are the three main candidates in the Romantic era, and what a great instrument the cello is, it's a shame Composers like Beethoven / Vaughan Williams / Sibelius etc didn't write Cello Concertos [i guess the same applies to Guitar Concertos], with Lynn Harrell in great form, and a superb booklet picture, this is a disc to play again and again, and a disc to treasure, starting to develop a regularity in my Blog, appearing twice before [21st November 2011 & 6th July 2010].

Lynn Harrell is American, he is now 68, he recorded this Concerto in 1981, and like i've said before, the Decca Eclipse issue is one hell of a stunning picture, i'm sure there's a warm filter to enhance those field of poppies, over half of the picture is of the field, and a small part of the picture is of the farmhouse, but it all works perfectly, one of the most stunning disc booklet pictures, and enhances the music no end.

Out of these three Concertos on this disc, it was the Schumann which got me the most excited, it's not as good as his Piano Concerto, but i believe it's very underrated, the beautiful slow movement is gorgeous, a lovely meditation, on this recording the whole Concerto is given one track on the disc, roughly the first movement is the first half of the work, and the movements are roughly split up as 12 / 4 / 8, and it's this short four, maybe five minutes that is a treasure, it starts at [11:12], the cello singing a melancholy low tune, while the strings are a slow pizzicato [11:12-12:06], i love the way the cello plays so entrancingly, bowing more than one string at once [13:02-13:54], the opening slow movement theme comes back, and then with slightly faster and louder music, it creates a bridge which leads into the third movement [15:51+], a lovely short central section of this very inventive Concerto.

Here's Mischa Maisky playing the slow movement on YouTube, Leonard Bernstein conducting.

Schumann - Piano Concerto [Kissin/Davis-London Symphony Orchestra] 

Kissin has recorded this work before with Giulini, i haven't heard that performance, this newer one is coupled with Mozart, the Schumann work is quite possibly the best thing he ever composed, it started out as a one movement Fantasy, and was expanded at the request of his Wife, and he composed two more movements to make it into a Piano Concerto, the 'fantasy-ness' of the Concerto still remains, and influenced Grieg to some degree in composing his own Piano Concerto just over 20 years later [both are in A Minor for example], it's good to hear this work again, and i never tire from listening to it.

Evgeny Kissin is Russian, born in 1971, he's now 40, he has recorded extensively for RCA, and now i guess he's at EMI as an Artist, the front cover photography [by Sasha Gusov] is nice and pleasing, showing Kissin in a thoughtful reflective mood, the lettering is nice enough, but his surname is splashed too large across the front, many times the size of the great Composers he represents.

Schumann - Piano Concerto [Barenboim/ Fischer Dieskau-London Philharmonic Orchestra]

Here's another instalment of this disc i played last year [29th June 2010], the Piano Concerto is a master of the sublime and the extravagant put together, there's a chimerical fantasy feel to the work, probably the best thing he's ever done.

Daniel Barenboim is Argentinian, born in 1942, he's now 68, he still straddles two careers, one of Pianist, the other of Conductor, he recorded this work in 1974, not a great recording sonically, a bit dry and brittle, not enough stereo-ness to it, the front cover [of his wife] is excellent [by Reg Wilson], and it's good to have the Husband / Wife collaboration of the Cello Concerto on this disc, and of course shows a close up of her face, nice lighting from above, highlights in the hair, and the colour scheme [blue and red, usually clash] is wonderful too.

Schumann - Piano Concerto [Tanyel/ Burgos-London Symphony Orchestra] 

Last month i listened to the Grieg Piano Concerto on this disc [14th July 2011], and now it's the turn of the Schumann, i'm starting to get familiar with this disc, and i find Tanyel has some wonderful ideas, a good overall interpretation, and another disc that is slowly becoming a little treasure. 

Seta Tanyel was born in Turkey, and has recorded extensively for Collins and Hyperion, she recorded this disc in 1990, i bought this from a dealer on a website, for £6 i believe, and i don't believe i've seen this disc available anywhere else since, which is a shame, they're lovely performances, the booklet front cover photo is a treasure in itself, showing Tanyel in a creative pose, hand in her hair, lovely skin tones, and that blue background!, it's the cold blue juxtaposing with the warm oranges that really make a statement, a fantastic cover. 

Again the first movement presents itself as a sort of 'concertino within a concerto', there's a fast / slow / fast programme within the first movement, it can actually stand up on its own, which originally it did!, it was only later at the urging of his wife, that Schumann composed the last two movements, i loved this first movement today, the opening oboe melody plays a great part in the Concerto [0:06-0:26], and i believe that Schumann had a certain something towards the oboe, as he composed a fair bit of Chamber music for it, another oboe melody comes in later [3:31-3:40],

Here's Martha Argerich playing the first movement on YouTube.