Schumann: Marches (4), Op. 76 - download (MP3 & FLAC)

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.