Robert Schumann(1810-1857) Kinderszenen, Opus 15 Claudio Arrau Philips 420871 Recorded 1974 Couplings: Waldszenen/Carnaval Part 3 is devoted to Claudio Arrau's recording of Kinderszenen. I might as well state up-front that it is one of the finest on record and is particularly memorable in the slower and more poignant scenes. Arrau begins by taking us to foreign lands in a lovely and perceptive interpretation excellently blending the wonder of discovery and the loss of youth. The "Pleading child" scene from Arrau is as good as it gets; he pleads so gorgeously and with total conviction. Exceptional performances of the slower scenes continue with the popular "Dreaming" scene where Arrau combines subtle nuance with a sublime tenderness. The sole scene of Arrau's that is well off the mainstream is "By the fireside" where he slows down the proceedings and provides the freshest and most pristine performance I've ever heard. Arrau's "Knight of the hobby-horse" is an exciting brew of whimsy and punch. Easily my favorite Arrau scene is the 12th(Slumbering child) which he injects with the most intense melancholy on record. I do have a few minor quibbles which I'll dispatch with quickly. "Curious Story" and "Catch me" would benefit from a little more 'fizz', "Important event" finds Arrau engaging in some unattractive key-banging, and the fright in "Being frightened" is on the low side. Everything else is great or magical in impact. The recorded sound is excellent for its time and actually a fine soundstage for Arrau; it's quite neutral and basically allows Arrau to do whatever he likes. With Arrau at the helm, more isn't needed. Don's Conclusions: With little exception, Arrau presents the total package. Most memorable are the slower scenes and "The poet speaks" where Arrau blends comfort, tenderness, and poignancy into irresistable desserts. Arrau joins Moiseiwitsch, Kubalek, Schnabel, Moravec, and Horszowski as my preferred recorded versions of Kinderszenen. I hope that additional versions are added to this esteemed grouping as I traverse my way through the reviews. Don Satz [log in to unmask]