Album

The music of Clara Schumann for solo piano on this four-disc set by Susanne Grützmann falls roughly into two types—bravura and poetic—which generally follows a chronological path through Schumann's life, or at least the portion during which she did compose (she stopped after the death of Robert). It might have been more helpful to have the works arranged on the four discs in chronological order or at least split into the two groups. Many of Clara's early works were created to please her audience and show off her skills as a pianist, which were impressive even at the age of 11. Those very first pieces are grouped together on the final disc, and after hearing the other three (and following them with a Romance written the year before Robert Schumann died), there is a discernible difference in maturity and complexity of composition, but the smattering of interesting harmonies, variations in structure, and mood changes tell you that this is no ordinary pre-teen. Of the later works, her best pieces are the short, character pieces that are very similar in nature to those of her husband. Her sonata doesn't quite gel into a full, large work, presenting itself more as a sonata allegro and rondo with two character pieces in between.

Grützmann is technically skillful, having no trouble with the more ostentatious moments, and she never plays them just for their glorification. More than that, she infuses the music with some of what someone might imagine Schumann was feeling at the time she wrote each work. The youthful dances are full of animation, good cheer (although Clara's father could be a harsh taskmaster), and a bit of "yes, but I'm a real musician who can also compose well" cheekiness. Romances from her married years have tenderness and, by turns, passion or melancholy. And throughout much of the music, Grützmann finds sensitive touches and a gracefulness, which in a way makes it feminine sounding compared to any of the music of Schumann's husband or her contemporaries Mendelssohn and Brahms, but seems a very natural part of her writing.

The caveat: beware of any recording purporting to be the "complete" anything. This isn't quite that. What's missing are a few smaller pieces that were only published in the late 1990s plus a few improvisations that Schumann's daughters convinced her to write out in her last years. (Jozef de Beenhouwer's 2001 recording on CPO is more complete.) Regardless, this encompasses the bulk and is eminently suitable for anyone who is interested in her music.

© Patsy Morita, Rovi

CD 1 of 4
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Scherzo for piano No.2 in C-, Op.14 Work Susanne Grutzmann Piano
1	Scherzo for piano No.2 in C-, Op.14	4:00			$0.99
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, for piano in F#-, Op.20 Work 11:27 Susanne Grutzmann Piano
2	Thema, ziemlich langsam	1:00			$0.99
3	Variation I	0:48			$0.99
4	Variation II	1:26			$0.99
5	Variation III	1:03			$0.99
6	Variation IV	1:13			$0.99
7	Variation V - Poco animato	1:02			$0.99
8	Variation VI	0:51			$0.99
9	Variation VII	4:04			$0.99
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Soirées Musicales, 6 pieces for piano, Op.6 Work 21:40 Susanne Grutzmann Piano
10	1.Toccatina in A-	2:07			$0.99
11	2.Notturno in F	4:49			$0.99
12	3.Mazurka in G-	3:17			$0.99
13	4.Ballade in D-	5:27			$0.99
14	5.Mazurka in G	2:16			$0.99
15	6.Polonaise in A-	3:44			$0.99
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Variations de Concert on a Cavatina from Bellini's 'Pirata,' for piano, Op.8 Work 17:15 Susanne Grutzmann Piano
16	Introduction	2:32			$0.99
17	Cavatine	2:24			$0.99
18	Variation I. Andantino	1:40			$0.99
19	Variation II. Molto gradioso, ma non troppo Allegro	3:21			$0.99
20	Variation III. Brillante	2:07			$0.99
21	Adagio quasi Fantasia a Capriccio	2:56			$0.99
22	Variation IV. Brillante e passionate	1:17			$0.99
23	Volante	0:58			$0.99
CD 2 of 4
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer 3 Romances, for piano, Op.11 Work 16:52 Susanne Grutzmann Piano
1	1.Romance in Eb-	4:32			$0.99
2	2.Romance in G-	6:45			$0.99
3	3.Romance in Ab	5:35			$0.99
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Piano Sonata in G- Work 18:39 Susanne Grutzmann Piano
4	1.Allegro	8:05			$1.49
5	2.Adagio	2:41			$0.99
6	3.Scherzo	2:20			$0.99
7	4.Rondo	5:33			$0.99
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Romance for piano in A- Work Susanne Grutzmann Piano
8	Romance for piano in A-	4:00			$0.99
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Pièces Charactéristiques (4) for piano, Op.5 Work 13:52 Susanne Grutzmann Piano
9	No.1. Impromptu, "Le Sabbat"	1:33			$0.99
10	No.2. Caprice a la Bolero	4:19			$0.99
11	No.3. Romance	3:32			$0.99
12	No.4. Scene fantastique (Le Ballet des Revenants)	4:28			$0.99
CD 3 of 4
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Pièces Fugitives (4), for piano, Op.15 Work 13:00 Susanne Grutzmann Piano
1	No.1. Larghetto in F	3:00			$0.99
2	No.2. Un poco agitato in A-	2:16			$0.99
3	No.3. Andante espressivo in D	5:21			$0.99
4	No.4. Scherzo in G	2:23			$0.99
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Souvenir de Vienne, impromptu for piano, Op.9 Work Susanne Grutzmann Piano
5	Souvenir de Vienne, impromptu for piano, Op.9	8:43			$1.49
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Scherzo for piano No.1 in D-, Op.10 Work Susanne Grutzmann Piano
6	Scherzo for piano No.1 in D-, Op.10	4:54			$0.99
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Romances (3) for piano, Op.21 Work 11:54 Susanne Grutzmann Piano
7	No.1. Romance in A-	5:29			$0.99
8	No.2. Romance in F	2:17			$0.99
9	No.3. Romance in G-	4:08			$0.99
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer 3 Preludes and Fugues, for piano, Op.16 Work 14:21 Susanne Grutzmann Piano
10	1a.Prelude I	2:00			$0.99
11	1b.Fugue I	1:42			$0.99
12	2a.Prelude II	3:05			$0.99
13	2b.Fugue II	2:23			$0.99
14	3a.Prelude III	2:32			$0.99
15	3b.Fugue III	2:39			$0.99
CD 4 of 4
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer 4 Polonaises, for piano, Op.1 Work 12:59 Susanne Grutzmann Piano
1	1.Polonaise in Eb	3:32			$0.99
2	2.Polonaise in C	2:51			$0.99
3	3.Polonaise in D	3:51			$0.99
4	4.Polonaise in C	2:45			$0.99
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Caprices in the Form of a Waltz, for piano, Op.2 Work 16:45 Susanne Grutzmann Piano
5	No.1. Caprice in C	2:48			$0.99
6	No.2. Caprice in D	1:53			$0.99
7	No.3. Caprice in Eb	2:31			$0.99
8	No.4. Caprice in Ab	1:51			$0.99
9	No.5. Caprice in Bb	2:25			$0.99
10	No.6. Caprice in C	1:18			$0.99
11	No.7. Caprice in Ab	1:56			$0.99
12	No.8. Caprice in Eb	1:16			$0.99
13	No.9. Caprice in Db	0:47			$0.99
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Romance Varié, for piano, Op.3 Work Susanne Grutzmann Piano
14	Romance Varié, for piano, Op.3	10:07			$1.99
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Valses Romantiques, for piano, Op.4 Work Susanne Grutzmann Piano
15	Valses Romantiques, for piano, Op.4	7:32			$1.49
Clara Wieck Schumann Composer Romance for piano in B- Work Susanne Grutzmann Piano
16	Romance for piano in B-	5:21			$0.99