Schumann used musical codes and allusive quotations to communicate intimate messages to his fiancée, Clara Wieck, due to her father's resistance to their relationship.
Performer Biography
Gerhard Oppitz has a discography of 81 CDs and has presented major work groups in cyclic form, including all of Beethoven's 32 sonatas and Brahms's complete piano works.
Compositional Technique
The Humoreske op. 20 contains a notated but unheard "inner voice" in its third part, similar to the "Sphinx" in Carnaval.
Performer Biography
Gerhard Oppitz, the pianist on this album, won the 1977 Artur Rubinstein Competition in Israel, with Artur Rubinstein himself heading the jury.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in the Irenensaal Baierbrunn between December 9 and 13, 2019.
Composer Biography
Schumann's plan to become one of the greatest living piano players was thwarted by the paralysis of his right hand's middle finger, caused by excessive practicing.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Schumann's piano writing was influenced by Schubert and late Beethoven, creating tension between harmonic sound and rhythmic melody with their dissonances.
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Schumann: Complete Piano Works, Vol. 4 - Schumann in Wien
