Album

Robert Schumann had the fortune of being alive at what must have been an astonishing period in the history of music, on the heels of Beethoven and surrounded by all of the great early Romantic composers and performers. Even his own family was a source of incredible musical gifts, from his gifted pianist wife, Clara, to even Clara's half brother, Woldemar Bargiel. This two-disc Capriccio set builds on some of these relationships and friendships that inspired some of Schumann's own compositions. Violinist Gudrun Schaumann and fortepianist Christoph Hammer present Schumann's violin sonatas, Op. 105, Op. 121, and WoO 2 along with his Op. 94 Romances for violin and piano. Family and friends are represented with Joseph Joachim's C major Romance, Bargiel's Op. 10 Sonata in F minor, and Clara's Op. 22 Three Romances. Despite the intrigue of the program itself, Schaumann and Hammer's playing is unfulfilling and forgettable. The fortepiano's sound is quite nasal and distant. Schaumann's Stradivari violin produces an uncharacteristically shrill, grating sound and is rather uneven in tone across its four strings. Her playing is lacking in smoothly connected lines, subtlety in the right arm, and flowing musical phrases and instead is angular and abrasive. Though many of these works heard here are difficult to find on other discs, this set may be appropriate only for die-hard enthusiasts of neglected repertoire.

© Mike D. Brownell, Rovi

CD 1 of 2
Robert Alexander Schumann Composer Violin Sonata No.3 in A-, WoO.27 Work 20:11 Gudrun Schaumann Violin, Christoph Hammer Piano (Forte)
1	1.Ziemlich langsam. Lebhaft	7:16			$1.49
2	2.Scherzo	2:19			$0.99
3	3.Intermezzo	3:33			$0.99
4	4.Finale	7:03			$1.49
Robert Alexander Schumann Composer 3 Romances, for oboe and piano, Op.94...3 Romances, for oboe and piano, Op.94 (arr. violin and piano) Work 11:20 Gudrun Schaumann Violin, Christoph Hammer Piano (Forte)
5	1.Nicht schnell	2:54			$0.99
6	2.Einfach, innig	4:14			$0.99
7	2.Einfach, innig	4:12			$0.99
Joseph Joachim Composer Romance in C for Violin and Piano Work Gudrun Schaumann Violin, Christoph Hammer Piano (Forte)
8	Romance in C for Violin and Piano	5:15			$0.99
Woldemar Bargiel Composer Violin Sonata in F-, Op.10 Work 32:10 Gudrun Schaumann Violin, Christoph Hammer Piano (Forte)
9	1.Allegro	13:33			$2.49
10	2.Andante sostenuto	7:37			$1.49
11	3.Allegro molto	11:00			$1.99
CD 2 of 2
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer 3 Romances for Violin and Piano, Op.22 Work 9:33 Gudrun Schaumann Violin, Christoph Hammer Piano (Forte)
1	1.Andante molto	2:51			$0.99
2	2.Allegretto, mit zartem Vortrage	2:33			$0.99
3	3.Leidenschaftlich schnell	4:09			$0.99
Robert Alexander Schumann Composer Violin Sonata No.1 in A-, Op.105 Work 17:52 Gudrun Schaumann Violin, Christoph Hammer Piano (Forte)
4	1.Mit leidenschaftlichem Ausdruck	8:20			$1.49
5	2.Allegretto	3:37			$0.99
6	3.Lebhaft	5:55			$0.99
Robert Alexander Schumann Composer Violin Sonata No.2 in D-, Op.121 Work 33:40 Gudrun Schaumann Violin, Christoph Hammer Piano (Forte)
7	1.Ziemlich langsam. Lebhaft	13:55			$2.49
8	2.Sehr lebhaft	4:34			$0.99
9	3.Leise, einfach	5:28			$0.99
10	4.Bewegt	9:43			$1.49