Composer Robert Schumann was a complex, turbulent, and troubled man. Ultimately he died at age 42 at an insane asylum. We are fortunate that had unique skills to express his feelings musically.
On this recording, pianist Lise de la Salle shows us her terrific skills in performing Schumann’s music for us.
She performs the following selections by Schumann:
Kinderszenen, Op. 15
Abegg Variations, Op. 1
Fantasie in C major, Op. 17
And here are her own words about the composer:
“I’ve always listened to a lot of Schumann. He fascinated me when I was a little girl of six or seven. I’ve always been attracted by the manic side of him, his very individual ‘touch’, and I’ve always loved surrendering myself to his music. I feel very close to it. But although Schumann is one of the composers I get most out of, I waited a long time before I played him ‘seriously’… I think I didn’t want to risk being disappointed by myself. I couldn’t bring myself to imagine that everything I had dreamt about this music might not take shape exactly as I wanted. So I waited until I was completely ready, and that moment came a few years ago…”
Here is Ms. de la Salle in the music of Bach:
