I make no secret of my fondness for Ragna Schirmer's formidable artistry. She is one of the great musical artists before the public today. I await each new release with no little alacrity. When first I spied this release a few months back, with its title
Madame Schumann, I assumed it would be chock full of works by Clara. As Ms Schirmer has already demonstrated on disc, she's probably the strongest proponent of the composer's music today. But no, this is a concept disc. It combines works that Clara Schumann herself performed in public during two concerts. Yes, there is one piece by Clara, some pieces by her husband, and various and sundry other items. Of special note, this disc includes solo Beethoven, in the form of Op 53.
I'll get right to that. I really,
really want to hear what Schirmer can do in a complete cycle. This recording makes me really,
really,
really want to. Unfailingly serious in approach, Schirmer delivers the goods. The opening is steady, fast, and quiet. The more vibrant passages are vibrant and under strict control. One could hope for more abandon, maybe, but this is supremely well controlled, and Schirmer's personal rubato and accents, especially in the last movement, reinforce, again, her ability to deliver serious music with serious ideas played in a serious way. She needs to record the rest of the sonatas. Seriously.
The first disc is given over to collaborative efforts, with Bob's Op 47 Quartet, Clara's Op 17 Trio, a song from Fanny Mendelssohn, and a song from Bob's
Myrthen. All are very well done. As usual, Schirmer chooses her collaborators wisely, and here Nora Friedrichs sings very nicely, indeed, and the trio of 30-something German hotshot instrumentalists Schirmer partners with in the other, bigger works, display world class playing. I would expect nothing less.
The second disc, though, is where it's at. Starting with the
Waldstein, and including a superb if serious
Kinderszenen as the other big work, Schirmer displays mastery of mixed rep. The one weakness is the too heavy Chopin Waltz, but everything else is top notch. There's an excerpt from a Handel Suite, and Schirmer again demonstrates that she knows her Handel. The Gluck/Brahms, Scarlatti, Chopin Impromptu, and Mendelssohn Rondo Capriccioso all make me want to hear what she can with any or all of the composers, and the three
Improvisations à la Clara Schumann she and Jens Schlichting put together act as marvelous transition pieces.
Ms Schirmer simply must record more. Right now.
I went the 24/48 download route, and as per usual, Berlin Classics delivers some of the best sound in the business.
Amazon UK link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07P99YGXM/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21