Isabelle Faust, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Alexander Melnikov - Schumann: Violin Concerto (2015) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

In the autumn of 1851 Schumann composed, in rapid succession, the two violin sonatas and, in the space of just seven days from 2 to 9 October, the Piano Trio no.3, Op.110. As always during his work, Schumann was oblivious to everything around him, neglected social obligations, and isolated himself even from Clara. Robert is working very assiduously on a trio for piano, violin, and cello, she confided to her diary, but he won t let me hear anything of it until he has quite finished it all I know is that it s in G minor. This trio, like all his other chamber works with piano, was tailor-made for Clara to play and right from the first rehearsal session in the domestic circle she went into a veritable frenzy of delight: It is original, absolutely full of passion, especially the scherzo, which sweeps one away to the wildest depths , Just a little bit of that same enthusiasm would probably have spared the Violin Concerto a great deal of opprobrium: Clara witheld the score, as did the dedicatee, Joachim. It was finally premiered in Berlin on 26 November 1937, more than 80 years after it was composed, with the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Karl Böhm and the violinist Georg Kulenkampff. Yehudi Menuhin had the privilege of making the first commercial recording, produced in the following year, 1938, with the New York Philharmonic under its British principal conductor John Barbirolli. This first volume in a trilogy comprising the complete concertos and piano trios of Schumann brings together two late and unjustly neglected works. The instigators of the project, Isabelle Faust, Alexandre Melnikov and Jean-Guihen Queyras, champion their cause with a force of conviction and a choice of instruments that restore the delicate transparency and subtlety of their textures. The next release will be of the Piano Concerto and Piano Trio No. 2. 'The idea for this CD project arose during a tour on which we performed Robert Schumann s Trio Op.80. As passionate admirers of the composer, we conceived the desire to place his works for piano, violin and cello in a broader context and to illuminate them mutually in order to allow listeners to gain a deeper understanding of his music. We soon agreed to play the pieces for this recording on a historical piano and stringed instruments with gut strings, using orchestral forces to match. Pablo Heras-Casado and the Freiburger Barockorchester sprang spontaneously to mind as the ideal partners for a project of this kind. Our shared journey into the magical world of this incomparable composer will remain with us as an exceptionally intense, happy, and fulfilling experience.' Isabelle Faust, Alexander Melnikov, Jean-Guihen Queyras.

Isabelle Faust brings her flawless technique and peerless intelligent musicianship to two works from a period during which Schumann s sanity was said to be starting to decline … Faust s focused tone, stripped of vibrato, combines with the richness of the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra to demonstrate that this work is no strained product of a frail mind but rather a characteristic experiment by this ever-questing composer … Faust, Queyras and Melnikov offer a technically sharper, more imaginatively phrased reading [of the Third Piano Trio]. David Threasher Gramophone, March 2015 –––– ***** 'to have musicians of the calibre of the three soloists here is joyous indeed … For the Violin Concerto, Isabelle Faust is joined by the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and conductor Pablo Heras-Casado. This great period-instrument orchestra transfer their very considerable skills honed in Baroque and Classical repertoire to the Romantic era as to the manner born. And the use by ensemble and soloist of gut strings gives a very particular sound effect, tangy and immediate … Faust cuts through the orchestra with ease, making every phrase count and sounding almost improvised as she discourses with the orchestra' –Harriet Smith Sinfini Music, 24th April 2015

BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE CONCERTO CHOICE Performance: ***** Recording: ***** 'In this superb performance, Isabelle Faust brings tremendous musical insight and an infinite variety of colour to the hugely demanding solo part. The great advantage pf presenting Schumann on period instruments is brilliantly demonstrated here … Alexander Melnikov s wonderfully sensitive playing of an early 19th-century piano enables the cello to share more of the musical limelight than is possible on a modern instrument.' –Erik Levi BBC Music Magazine, June 2015

'this is the first of three volumes designed to showcase Schumann s music for violin, cello and piano, and with musicians of this intelligence and mutual sympathy, it ought to be worth following' Andrew McGregor - BBC Radio 3 CD Review, 21st March 2015 –- ***** 'every moment communicates with consistent conviction … These period instrument performances think differently. I ve never heard quite such a searing account of the Violin Concerto s opening movement.' –Michael Dervan The Irish Times, 26th March 2015

TRACKLIST

Violin Concerto in D minor WoO 1
01. I. In kräftigem, nicht zu schnellem Tempo (15:11)
02. II. Langsam (5:24)
03. III. Lebhaft, doch nicht schnell (11:45)

Piano Trio No.3 in G minor Op.110
04. I. Bewegt, doch nicht zu rasch (11:12)
05. II. Ziemlich langsam (5:57)
06. III. Rasch (4:33)
07. IV. Kräftig, mit Humor (7:34)

PERSONNEL
Isabelle Faust, violin
Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello
Alexander Melnikov, piano
Freiburger Barockorchester, early music ensemble
Pablo Heras-Casado, conductor