Robert Schumann(1810-1857)
     Kinderszenen, Opus 15

Christian Zacharias
EMI 54844
Recorded 1992
Coupling: Schumann's Novelletten
TT 67:28

EMI discs from Christian Zacharias aren't so easy to find in the United
States.  It seems I always have to deal with 'special imports', because
Zacharias isn't routinely distributed in the States.  That's hard to
understand, because he is a fine and multi-talented artist whose recordings
generally stand up well to the competition.

How well does the Zacharias Kinderszenen stand up? Although not of the
transcendent variety, the performance is recommended for its idiomatic
treatment of the child and adult in Schumann and its distinctively light
and spare textures.  Zacharias gives us a most refreshing set of
performances.  That is, except when he does deliver a heavy treatment
which unfortunately crops up in two of the scenes.

"Of Foreign lands and people" is done with plenty of feeling and "Curious
Story" has the desired spring and playful exuberance.  Zacharias uses a
spare texture and light touch for "Catch me" that still manages to generate
excitement, and he pleads with the best of them in the 4th Scene.

I love the way Zacharias winds down at the conclusion of "Important event";
some pianists don't even bother to make the effort.  We get a quick-paced
performance of "Dreaming" from Zacharias which unfortunately doesn't allow
the listener to savor the music.  Things continue to sour a little with
"By the fireside" where Zacharias abandons his light ways and gets a
little too heavy-handed.  This heavy treatment also inflicts "Knight of
the hobby-horse" as well.  From this point on the performances are fine,
although the first scary section of "Being frightened" is much too timid.

Don's Conclusions:  Zacharias tends to have a distinctively light and
refreshing touch which serves him well.  However, I'm never astounded
by any of his performances, and two of the scenes are banged out with
excessive force.  A mild recommendation is the best I can offer, but the
reading is certainly enjoyable on its own.  Perhaps Zacharias will fare
better in the less recorded Novelletten which I'll be reviewing at a future
date.

I still have a limited number of versions of Kinderszenen to cover, but
I've run out of performances in my inventory.  The rest is on order and out
of my control as to when they reach me or even if they will reach me.  In
recent months, "Backorder" is another name for "Purgatory".

Not being sure that there will be additional Parts to this review project,
here's the current line-up:

Essential:  Haskil, Moiseiwitch, Arrau, Kubalek, Moravec, Schnabel, and
Horszowski.

Excellent:  Jegorov, Argerich, Horowitz, Kempff, Curzon, Blumenthal,
Brendel, and Blancard.

Mild Approval:  Ortiz, Zacharias, Demus, Fou Ts'ong, Katin, and Lupu.

Not Worthy:  Slenczynska, Ashkenazy, Chuprik, Jonas, O'Hora, Achatz, and
Engerer.

Don Satz
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