Robert Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4 : Arte Nova Classics

"Excellence at this level serves only to renew our faith both in the vitality of the classics and in the ability of today's interpreters to triumphantly stand toe to toe with the greatest recorded documents of the past." (10/10 rating!)-CLASSICS TODAY

"In this cycle of the Symphonies with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, Zinman reveals Schumann every bit as great as his friends Mendelssohn and Brahms and nearly as great as his idols Schubert and Beethoven. In Zinman's hands and as realized by the Zurich Orchestra, Schumann's First is charming and courageous, his Second is darkness and fright, his Third is awe and delight, and his Fourth is darkness to light. The Zurich Orchestra plays with a strong, warm tone and deep, radiant colors. Arte Nova's sound is richly detailed and lushly reverberant. One of the great Schumann cycles. Anyone who loves Schumann's music or German Romantic symphonies will love these discs." -ALL MUSIC GUIDE - $6.13

Schumann: Complete Piano Works : Phantom Sound & Vision

- $20.95

Schumann: String Quartets Nos. 1-3 : Naxos

- $5.79

Best of Schumann : Naxos

- $3.48

Schumann: Piano Concerto / Sviatoslav Richter : Deutsche Grammophon

If you want to judge a pianist's versatility, listen to his or her recording of the Schumann Piano Concerto. It requires virtually everything a pianist should have to offer: poetry, virtuosity, expansive expression alternating with poised restraint. What a glorious test piece this is. Richter, who was famous for his Schumann playing, passes every test here. His meltingly beautiful delivery of Schumann's melodies touches the heart, and his execution of the most difficult passages is so smooth and effortless that it never calls a bit of attention to itself. In this piece and the Introduction and Allegro, the excellent orchestra also covers itself with glory. The solo pieces are no less wonderful. The way Richter plays the difficult Toccata is almost scary in its combination of power and velocity. The Forest Scenes is a slightly older recording (1956) than the others (1958), but it still sounds lovely. Catch Richter's whirlwind playing of "Traumes-Wirren" and you'll understand right away why other pianists had such respect for his technique. Listen to his "Prophet Bird" and he'll touch your heart. --Leslie Gerber - $7.24

Schumann: Op. Nos. 44 & 47 : Deutsche Grammophon

Schumann's Piano Quintet is one of the world's (and my) favorite pieces of chamber music. But the less-outgoing Piano Quartet eventually reveals its secrets, too, and it's another wonderful piece. These are fascinating performances. Menaham Pressler, on leave from the Beaux Arts Trio, blends his Old World charm with the New World energy of the Emerson Quartet. The result is a near-ideal balance of power and grace, and there is even some old-fashioned portamento (sliding between notes) to be heard in the strings. It's hard to think of anyone whose taste extends beyond the Baroque era who won't be pleased and moved by this disc. --Leslie Gerber - $11.02

Robert Schumann: Kinderszenen/Kreisleriana : Deutsche Grammophon

- $9.55

Works for Solo Piano : Decca

Few Pianists have Explored and Recorded Such a Wealth of Keyboard Literature as Vladimir Ashkenazy. During an Association with Decca which Stretches Back Almost 40 Years Now, Ashkenazy Has Completed Cycles of Some of the Most Important Concertos (Mozart, Beethoven, Prokofiev, Bartók and Rachmaninov), as Well as an Extensive Amount of Solo Literature.two Of the Greatest Figures in 19th-century Piano Music Are Chopin and Schumann, and Music by Both Composers Has Featured, and Continues to Feature, in Ashkenazy's Recitals. He Has Recorded Almost all of Chopin Solo Works and During the Years 1984-95 Undertook a Major Survey of Schumann's Solo Literature (Some Works Including the Sinfonische Etüden, Fantasie, Kreisleriana and Humoreske) Ashkenazy Had Recorded Earlier in his Career). These Digital Recordings Are Now Presented as a Box Set for the First Time and Are an Invaluable Collection of the Composer's Most Important Keyboard Works, Performed by One of the Greatest Pianists of his Ge - $39.62

Schumann: Complete Piano Trios : Philips

This two-CD set, offering Schumann's groundbreaking Piano Quintet, the Piano Quartet, and the three piano trios, is an exceptional bargain. The approach of the Beaux Arts players and their associates is essentially reflective: they let the music speak for itself and avoid the rhetorical excesses other interpreters often fall victim to. In their hands the quintet, one of Schumann's most inspired creations, receives an especially polished and poised performance, with a lovely dovetailing of voices. The analog recordings are warm and detailed, and they have been optimally transferred to CD. --Ted Libbey - $9.56

Schumann: The 4 Symphonies : Deutsche Grammophon

Leonard Bernstein was full of surprises. A conductor often accused of hopeless self-indulgence, he responded intuitively to the classical aesthetic of Haydn, and no less to the early Romantic bravado of Schumann. In fact, these symphonies have never been better played or conducted than they are here. These are performances of high passion--they're either very fast or very slow--and extraordinary color and drama. Bernstein sticks faithfully to the composer's original, thick orchestrations but makes each symphony work through playing of unflagging clarity and chamber music-like balance. That this was all done live, in performances of such wide emotional range, is amazing. But amazing was what Bernstein did best. --David Hurwitz - $9.56