Schubert: 'Wanderer' Fantasy, d. 760 / Schumann: Fantasie in C, Op. 17

Franz Schubert (Composer), Robert Schumann (Composer), Maurizio Pollini (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Maurizio Pollini
• Composer: Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann
• Audio CD (August 13, 1996)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GR1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,188 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pollini at his best (which can't be beat!), October 3, 2000

By 

Christopher Smith (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Schubert: 'Wanderer' Fantasy, d. 760 / Schumann: Fantasie in C, Op. 17 (Audio CD)

To my mind, this recording is one of Pollini's most outstanding accomplishments--up there with his early recordings of the Chopin Etudes, Preludes and Polonaises, and his still unsurpassed recordings of the final five Beethoven piano sonatas. Pollini's concentration is formidable, and it seems to me that with his flawless technique he can accomplish anything at the keyboard. I have two other recordings of the Wanderer Fantasy (Brendel, Richter) and admire them as much as Pollini's; all three divine the narrative flow of the four movements that comprise this piece, and their respective interpretations, with all their subtle differences, are all worth having and comparing. But its the explosive passion of Schumann's Fantasy that sets this recording apart. To my mind this must be a very difficult piece to play and interpret, since it's so moody--stormy and gently lyrical and then back to stormy again within the space of a few bars. This is where Pollini's control over a piece comes into play. He never loses his grip on Schumann's developing drama, so that the triumphant (and overwhelmingly climactic) third movement seems as inevitable as it is beautiful. I haven't liked some of Pollini's recordings from the last decade, but this one from the early 70's reminds me why he continues to be one of my favorite pianists.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best among the best!, April 11, 2001

By 

Patrick Pierre-Louis (Delmas, Haiti) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Schubert: 'Wanderer' Fantasy, d. 760 / Schumann: Fantasie in C, Op. 17 (Audio CD)

This disc comes first in my discography of Schubert. But in its first release, the Wanderer-Fantasie was coupled with Sonata D 845. This owed us the best possible compilation of two incomparable interpretations for two great Schubert's works. On the other hand, Schumann's Fantasia was coupled with Sonata No. 1. As a result, we had two equally outstanding recordings.

In this new release, Pollini has no rival in "Wanderer-Fantasie" and even Perrahia might sound prosaic facing such implacable rigor and balance. As to Schumann's Fantasia, Richter and Perrahia are, in my view, the best alternative but Pollini knows how to combine poetic expression and scrupulous respect of structures so that the global architecture of the work never dilutes. In the third movement, this impression of dilution present in Perrahia's reading is patent in Richter's rendering because both artists gave primacy to the expression of the evanescent character of feelings. Pollini never looses sight of the lines while keeping the tension alive from beginning to end. In this perspective, his interpretation might be more satisfactory.

Perrahia also couples Schubert's and Schumann's Fantasias on the same disc (CBS). Every lover of those works should have both discs.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent Wanderer, March 6, 2008

By 

Russell I. Burnett (Newark, DE, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Schubert: 'Wanderer' Fantasy, d. 760 / Schumann: Fantasie in C, Op. 17 (Audio CD)

Schubert's piano music is incredible, and I return to it so often. In the past I believed the 'Wanderer' to be inferior to the sonatas, impromptus, and four-hand music. What an incredible difference Pollini's interpretation makes. He plays with such clarity; I understand now the grandeur and magnificence of this piece. In Pollini's hands it is one of Schubert's finest compositions.

This album has the same effect on me as Pollini's recording of the late Beethoven piano sonatas. This is incredible music played just how I like it.

It's good to be aware that some have taken issue with the sound quality on this recording it. I, however, am not bothered by it.

I have had a more difficult time latching onto Schumann's piano music and thus do not feel qualified to comment on the Schumann Fantasie Op. 17 included here, though the other reviewers certainly seem to hold it in high esteem.

UPDATE (Nov. 2008): On further listening Pollini has absolutely sold me on Schumann, so much so that I have purchased all of his Schumann recordings (all of which I highly recommend). The praise given to the Fantasie by the other reviewers is fully justified.