Emanuel Gruber & Keiko Sekino - Fantasy & Romance (2016)

Tracklist
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01. Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 (Arr. F. Grützmacher for Cello & Piano): No. 1, Zart und mit Ausdruck
02. Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 (Arr. F. Grützmacher for Cello & Piano): No. 2, Lebhaft, leicht
03. Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 (Arr. F. Grützmacher for Cello & Piano): No. 3, Rasch und mit Feuer
04. Adagio & Allegro, Op. 70 (Arr. F. Grützmacher for Cello & Piano): Adagio
05. Adagio & Allegro, Op. 70 (Arr. F. Grützmacher for Cello & Piano): Allegro
06. 3 Romanzen, Op. 94 (Arr. V. Despalj for Cello & Piano): No. 1, Nicht schnell
07. 3 Romanzen, Op. 94 (Arr. V. Despalj for Cello & Piano): No. 2, Einfach, innig
08. 3 Romanzen, Op. 94 (Arr. V. Despalj for Cello & Piano): No. 3, Nicht schnell
09. Märchenbilder (Arr. A. Piatti & C. Bellisario for Cello & Piano): I. Nicht schnell
10. Märchenbilder (Arr. A. Piatti & C. Bellisario for Cello & Piano): II. Lebhaft
11. Märchenbilder (Arr. A. Piatti & C. Bellisario for Cello & Piano): III. Rasch
12. Märchenbilder (Arr. A. Piatti & C. Bellisario for Cello & Piano): IV. Langsam, mit melancholischem Ausdruck
13. 5 Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102: No. 1, Mit Humor "Vanitas vanitatum"
14. 5 Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102: No. 2, Langsam
15. 5 Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102: No. 3, Nicht schnell, mit viel Ton zu spielen
16. 5 Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102: No. 4, Nicht zu rasch
17. 5 Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102: No. 5, Stark und markiert
18. 12 Klavierstücke für kleine und große Kinder, Op. 85: No. 12, Abendlied (Arr. L. Lechner for Cello & Piano)
19. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 7, Träumerei (Arr. L. Lechner for Cello & Piano)

While Robert Schumann played the cello both as a child and as a young man, he wrote very little original music for the instrument: only his cello concerto and the Five Pieces in Folk-style, op.102, offered in this album. But cellists, eager to play his wonderful chamber compositions originally written for other instruments, have made successful and alluring transcriptions of them; six of those are offered on this album.

In this, Emanuel Gruber’s second album for Delos, we hear – in addition to the op.102 pieces above – cello versions of the Fantasy Pieces, op.73; Adagio and Allegro, op.70; Three Romances, op.94; Evening Song, op.o85; and Traümerei, op.15. All of these marvellous works reflect Schumann’s wondrous lyricism and heartfelt passion; also his hallmark spontaneity and dizzying mood swings.

Joining Emanuel is the distinguished pianist Keiko Sekino: an ideal musical partner; together they achieve stirring and deeply emotional interpretations that will touch listeners’ hearts and draw them irresistibly into Schumann’s unique and ultra-romantic musical world.