Schumann concerto

[dancingfingers]

I'm about to start the Schumann a-minor concerto-- would love input from anyone who knows it, i.e. how technically difficult, trouble spots, etc. Help appreciated. It's such a beautiful piece; I want to do the best I can on it 

[Nightscape]

This concerto is most certainly longer than five minutes.

[wintervind]

Difficult
all of it! and not just the technical parts
I found the development section in the first movement chalenging
third movement - the coda, yikes!

[SDL]

Technically not as hard as many others.  The difficulty is getting it together with the orchestra to create that great rapport needed.  So many recordings sound like solo with orchestral accompaniment (Solomon for one!).  And I hate how everyone seems to pull around the transition to almost a grotesque rubato (section beginning with piano as solo with orchestral echos and answer phrases just before the development).  I like moura lympany's version of this section - played straight but with a bit of borrowed time (i.e give back what you take).

My favourite Schumann 3rd mov is Richter's.  The 3rd mov is the hardest I think.

[steinwayguy]

The third movement is definitely the hardest.

And Richter/Matacic is the definitive recording you should seek. One of the best recordings of anything I've ever heard.

[stebroccm]

slightly more difficult than the Grieg Concerto, with some awkwardness and unidiomatic writing, but overall not too bad.  The last movement is technically the hardest, though there is a G major section in the middle of the first movement which is not easy either. 

[apion]

Difficult
all of it! and not just the technical parts
I found the development section in the first movement chalenging
third movement - the coda, yikes!

It is a difficult to "very difficult" concerto.  Slightly more difficult than the Grieg, and slightly easier than the Emperor.

I also think it's one of the top 10 greatest concerti every composed.  It's well worth the investment to learn it.

[MaryBox]

The best piece of advice I've been given is to listen to Schumann lied (especially Dichterliebe), and sightread some of them if you can - it will give you a better understanding of this amazing composer and his singing qualities strongly evident in his piano music. I enjoyed every second of it - what an amazing, amazing piece.

[musicsdarkangel]

This work is definitely tough, I saw my friend play it with an orchestra last week.

It will help your octave/repetition techniques heavily.


Just make sure you do a lot of slow practice (there is a good amount of rapid chord playing), and to do groupings for octaves and such.

Knock yourself out, it's a great concerto.

[fred smalls]

This concerto is most certainly longer than five minutes.

I am glad someone pointed this out. 

May I also suggest that it is, in fact, written by Schumann and, contrary to popular belief, is in the key of A Minor?