Schumann: Marches (4), Op. 76

Schumann’s Four Fugues, Op. 72 were written during a period of ill-health in 1845 but these masterly pieces reveal nothing of his private turmoil. The Album für die Jugend followed in 1848. In this recording we hear the alternative version of Wilder Reiter (The Wild Rider), with its slightly more ambitious ending, as well as those pieces Schumann excised from the first edition. The Revolutionary year of 1849 brought resurgence in his creativity in the form of the Four Marches, Op. 76 which are imbued with a martial spirit. The Albumblatt: Ahnung (Album Leaf: Foreboding) was only rediscovered in 2007.

This CD includes Robert Schumann’s 4 Marches Op. 76 and 4 Fugues Op. 72, as well as Clara Schumann’s 3 Preludes and Fugues Op. 16. Tobias Koch is considered one of the most versatile and distinguished keyboard artists of his generation and specializes in period performance. Here he performs on an 1852 Erard Concert Grand.

Eric Lesage continues his flamboyant exploration of Robert Schumann's solo piano repertoire, recorded in the outstanding acoustic of La Chaux-de-Fonds.This series will be completed in 2010, the anniversary of Schumann's birth.

A great Romantic journey!

Winner of Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros, this set brings together Robert Schumann's complete works for solo piano. This great cycle benefited from having been recorded in the unique acoustics of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, by the same recording engineer, Jean-Marc Laisné.

Sales of the 13 CDs comprising this set have exceeded 20,000 copies round the world.

This complete recording is now acknowledged as a reference and, at the same time, an important step in the artistic life of pianist Eric le Sage.

Schumann’s piano output contains only 2 sonatas (3 if the Op.14 concerto without orchestra is included), the reason for this is that he was not at all comfortable working within the classical structures, preferring freer structures. The masterpieces – the Fantasy Op.17, the Humoreske Op.20, Carnaval, Pappilons, Kreisleriana and the Symphonic Etudes rank among the greatest works in the piano repertoire. The torrent of imagination and emotion Schumann poured into these works is extraordinary by any standards.

These 13 CDs contain his entire output for solo piano, plus his only completed piano concerto (again his problem with classical forms lead him to abandon 2 other piano concertos), which has become one of the best loved piano concertos in the repertoire.