KEMPFF, WILHELM schumann; kinderszenen, piano sonata in g minor MG2448
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Artist = KEMPFF, WILHELM
Title = schumann; kinderszenen, piano sonata in g minor
Label = DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON
Catalog# = MG2448
Barcode = none
Release = JAPAN
Year = 1974
RPM = 33rpm
Disc Size = 12"
Number of Discs = 1
Mono/Stereo = stereo
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A Poet at the Piano: Wilhelm Kempff Plays Schumann
In the pantheon of great 20th-century pianists, Wilhelm Kempff holds a special place, particularly for his profound and poetic interpretations of the German Romantic repertoire. A perfect demonstration of his mastery is this album featuring two essential works by Robert Schumann: “Kinderszenen” and the Piano Sonata in G minor. We are looking at the Deutsche Grammophon pressing with the catalog number MG-2448.
Wilhelm Kempff was celebrated not just for his flawless technique, but for his deep spirituality and the lyrical, introspective quality of his playing. This made him a natural and ideal interpreter of the music of Schumann, a composer whose work is filled with deep emotion, passion, and poetic sensitivity.
This album showcases two contrasting sides of Schumann’s genius, and Kempff’s ability to navigate both with incredible insight. First is “Kinderszenen,” or “Scenes from Childhood.” This is not music for children to play, but rather a set of thirteen delicate and nostalgic pieces reflecting on the world of childhood from an adult’s perspective. Kempff’s performance is a marvel of intimacy and tenderness, capturing the simple beauty and profound poetry of these miniatures.
In stark contrast is the Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor. This is a turbulent, passionate, and virtuosic work, full of the fiery impetuosity of Schumann’s “Florestan” personality. Here, Kempff demonstrates that his poetic touch does not lack for power, delivering a performance that is both technically brilliant and full of dramatic fire.
To listen to this record is to hear a true master in his element, a pianist with a deep, lifelong connection to the composer’s soul. For any lover of Romantic piano music, this album is an essential and deeply rewarding recording.