Clara Schumann & Zeitgenossen Andrea Kauten & Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim

• Carl Reinecke (1824 - 1910): Concertstück in B-Flat Major, Op. 33:
• 1 Concertstück in B-Flat Major, Op. 33: I. Allegro 06:13
• 2 Concertstück in B-Flat Major, Op. 33: II. Lento ma non tanto 05:49
• 3 Concertstück in B-Flat Major, Op. 33: III. Allegro 05:33
• Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856):
• 4 Thema mit Varationen in E-Flat Major, WoO 24 11:53
• Clara Schumann (1819 - 1896):
• 5 Variationen über ein Thema von Robert Schumann, Op. 20 11:41
• Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 7:
• 6 Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 7: I. Allegro maestoso (Version for Chamber Orchetra) 07:20
• 7 Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 7: II. Romanze (Version for Chamber Orchetra) 05:03
• 8 Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 7: III. Finale. Allegro ma non troppo (Version for Chamber Orchetra) 11:09
• Total Runtime 01:04:41

Info for Clara Schumann & Zeitgenossen

Virtuoser Glanz und lyrische Poesie? Schon die äußere Gestalt der Kompositionen für Klavier in solistischer und konzertanter Besetzung von Clara und Robert Schumann sowie Carl Reinecke nimmt beim ersten Hören für sich ein. Doch die Werkauswahl, die Andrea Kauten für die vorliegende Einspielung getroffen hat, greift weiter.

Die Arbeiten von Clara und Robert Schumann sind als gewollt beredte Selbstzeugnisse wie selten sonst aus der biographischen Situation ihrer Schöpfer zu verstehen, haben es die beiden sich doch zur Angewohnheit gemacht, einander zu besonderen Anlässen mit Widmungswerken zu beschenken, in denen sie sich gegenseitig zitieren, variieren und manchmal auch zu belehren versuchen. Sie zeigen uns zwei Menschen, die sich zunächst ihres persönlichen wie künstlerischen Selbstverständnisses vergewissern, sei es noch in der Aufbruchszeit der Erstlingswerke, oder bald als Jungverliebte, die sich in kleinen, gehaltvollen Stücken vertrauliche Botschaften senden.

Andrea Kauten, Klavier
Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim

Andrea Kauten
Trained from the age of seven by the Basle pianist Albert Engel, the Swiss-Hungarian pianist Andrea Kauten became a finalist at the Jecklin Competition in Zurich at 13 and won first prize at the Swiss Youth Music Competition one year later before enrolling at the Basle Academy of Music. A scholarship from the Federation of Migros Cooperatives Switzerland then enabled her to continue her studies at the famous Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. This opportunity, and the brilliant combination of technique and expressivity she admires in Liszt�s music, have left an indelible mark on her playing. Her close blend of sensitivity and consummate technique enables her to coax unimaginable sounds from the concert grand piano. Her playing is poetic � now subdued, now richly expressive, but always eminently creative and always in keeping with the demands of the music.

»I want people to be able to find something for themselves that fills them with the same passion and intensity that I feel the moment I touch a piano.« These thoughtful words bear witness to the ardent fervour and deeply felt humanity that Andrea Kauten pursues in her art. Her readings ofthe great 19th century composers demonstrate both the sensitivity and the virtuosity she has at her command. She places great store on accuracy and textual fidelity in her playing, divining so to speak the intended message through the musical text, unveiling it with supremely intuitive musicianship and bringing it to fruition in enhanced form. Her first CD, with works by Franz Liszt, Carl Goldmark and Sergei Rachmaninov, appeared as early as 1993. Since then she has concertised in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Denmark, France and Germany. In 2006 she released recordings of Schumann's C-major Fantasy, Kreisleriana and two Romances (op. 28, nos. 2 and 3) on the Sony Classical label. Two further CDs followed in 2009, one with Schumann's Third Piano Sonata, Symphonic Etudes and Novelettes, the other with Beethoven�s Appassionata Sonata, two late Brahms pieces (op. 118, nos. 1 and 2) and finally Carnaval, again by Schumann.

Andrea Kauten is Artistic Director of the Anneliese Benner-Krafft Foundation Concerts in Schopfheim-Fahrnau (in the southern Black Forest), a concert series that has long been recommended by connoisseurs.

Booklet for Clara Schumann & Zeitgenossen