Sir András Schiff interprets two Schumann masterworks

A tribute from one great pianist to another: Sir András Schiff channels the spirit of Robert Schumann in a recital dedicated to two of the German composer’s most monumental masterpieces, beginning with the formidable Kreisleriana. Schumann, who considered this his favorite work at the time of its composition, was inspired by E.T.A. Hoffman’s tormented fictional composer Kreisler, with each of the eight movements presenting dramatic shifts in mood and personality—reflecting the volatility of Hoffmann’s creation and, of course, of Schumann himself.

The second half of the program is given over to the exceedingly difficult and musically fascinating Symphonic Etudes, an exercise in divergent styles and technical prowess, which the virtuosic Schiff pulls off with stunning aplomb. Both works, composed just a few years apart in the 1830s, demonstrate the remarkable creativity of this period of Schumann’s life, heavily marked by the influence of Clara and their burgeoning relationship.