Who do you think is the best Schumann interpreter?

[lia04]

Hi everyone!

I just play the Schumann Humoreske op.20. I listen some recordings, and find I like the Yeol Eum Son's performing very much. It includes many imagination,beautiful moment and details.

Still like Schumann's other little piano pieces. Full of varied mood and emotions. Who do you think is 
 the best interpreter of Schumann?

Thank you so much!

[pianist1976]

As I don't think there is such a thing like "the best" in arts, my three favorite Schumann interpreters are Cortot, Arrau and Kempff (not necessarily on that order). I don't put on that list the Schumann specialist Jörg Demus as while he recorded the complete works for piano, I find his playing swallow and unimaginative. For alive pianists, while not my favorite pianists, I think Ashkenazy and Pollini did very interesting approaches to Schumann's music. Pierre Laurent Aimard also did very interestig Schumann recordings, surprising as the image he has created of himselft is as an impresionist and contemporary music interpreter.

This is very subjective...

Waiting for Thal's reply... 

[toneqing]

Hello Lia,

That's very useful for me. And I will listen to Yeol Eum Son's performing as early as possible.We will have a discussion later.

Thanks very much!
Tone

[thalbergmad]

I don't put on that list the Schumann specialist Jörg Demus as while he recorded the complete works for piano, I find his playing swallow and unimaginative.

Perhaps, that is the fault of the composer and not the pianist.

Thal

[pianoman53]

Pierre Monteaux doe obviously an amazing job with the symphonies... But since this is a piano forum, filled with pianists, I guess the symphonies weren't supposed to be included, since no one can learn anything from anything else than piano -.-

[j_menz]

Clara, obviously.

Not that one gets to hear her these days.

[landru]

Richter did a great interpretation of Papillons that I love. And Horowitz seems to know his way around pretty well - Traumerei (sp?) was one of his go-to encores.

[lia04]

Yes, I love Arrau's Schumann, clear details on every sentance