Schumann: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 & 3

2010

“Bernd Glemser's playing here is an exceptionally arresting experience in its graphic immediacy and freshness. With his prodigious technique, underpinned by exuberant imaginative vitality, it was no surprise to learn that in a wideranging repertory, he feels particularly drawn to the later Romantic virtuoso school. Some listeners might well think his approach to Schumann's F sharp minor Sonata (written at the age of 25) too overtly Lisztian in expression to be truly stylish. Sure, the more classically disciplined Clara, for example, would never have allowed herself such extreme changes of tempo in contrasting Florestan's turbulence with Eusebius's idyllic lyricism in the two spacious outer movements.
Yet with his innate musicality Glemser somehow allows the argument to cohere. His challenging rhythm in the Scherzo (and the richly savoured burlesque of its trio), like the senza passione ma espressivo of the slow movement's intimate song, are all finely judged. The F minor Sonata comes in Schumann's 1853 revision, restoring the second of the two Scherzos omitted when the work was first published 17 years earlier, as a three-movement Concert sansorchestre. With Naxos's tonal reproduction at its best, this disc comes recommended as a true 'super-bargain' not to be missed.”

14th July 2002

“Bernd Glemser's insight into the composers troubled mind and heart makes a strong case for these works”