Robert Schumann's Violin Concerto in D minor was composed in just 13 days in 1853, shortly before his mental health rapidly deteriorated.
Instruments
Nicolas Dautricourt, the violinist on this album, plays a magnificent Antonio Stradivari violin from 1704, known as the 'Château Pape-Clément', on loan from Bernard Magrez.
Historical Context
The premiere of Robert Schumann's Violin Concerto in D minor in 1937 was influenced by the Nazi government, which asserted Germany's copyright and insisted on a German premiere.
Composition History
Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann's wife, encouraged him to write more ambitious orchestral music, leading to a productive period that included his Piano Concerto.
Compositional Technique
The main oboe theme in Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54, symbolizes Clara Schumann and dominates the entire first movement, reappearing in varied forms.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54, introduced a new concept of piano concerto, moving away from virtuosic display towards a more intimate interplay between soloist and orchestra.
Critical Reception
At its premiere, Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor was warmly received by most, but some felt cheated by its lack of virtuosic display, leading Franz Liszt to comment it was a 'concerto without piano'.
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