Here Hong Kong-born pianist Tiffany Poon reveals her close affinity to Schumann – the only real comparison I can think of is someone whom I consider one of the greatest Schumann pianist of all time, Yves Nat. Yet her way is different, individual, as if she is privy to all of Schumann’s inner secrets – and she whispers them to us.
(Nat’s complete Schumann recordings – four hours 49 minutes worth – are held on one YouTube video, here)
Here’s a documentary which is completely aptly entitled: “Robert Schumann for a new generation”:
In addition to the examples, there are full performances in video available that Poon has linked to this release on YouTube, and we’ll include them in this post.
If you thought you knew Kinderszenen, hear this. When I said “whisper” above, I mean it – Poon’s pianissimos are extraordinary, and compelling, and Pentatone’s recording fully supports them. “Träumerei” emerges completely naturally, its vast history obliterated in a moment of pure reflection:
There are risks here, too: the most tender, whispered, “Fast zu Ernst” I think I have ever heard, and the rhythmic intricacies of “Ritter am Steckenpferd” are compelling:
Here’s a full performance in Dresden’s lovely Palais am Großen Garten, just outside the city centre (in a lovely park):
The Arabeske is more the just a separator between Opp. 15 and 6, fluid and blunt at its opening, reflective in the legato octavos that contrast, the whole impulsive, self a (different type of) dream. Here’s the film:
Finally, Davidbundlertänze, Schumannn;’s exquisite sequence, still too infrequently performed in the concert hall, for some reason. I do remember an extraordinary Pollini performance at the Festival Hall back in the early 1980s Poon is very different, more responsive to nuance, though: listen to the impetuosity (captured in the fabulous audio) of “Ungeduldig”:
There is an urgency here that seems like an intensification and prolongation of that found in the Arabeske. Technically, Poon is superb, her staccato just right, full-toned. But it is the whole experience that is so impressive. Davidbündletänze emerges as a whole, yet less an organic one, moe a multi-fasceed, shining jewel we see from multiple angles. Try the lightness of “Mit humor”:
Here’s the full live perfomance:
The Pentatone recording is simply superb. This is a major release, and one which I hope catapults Tiffany Poon into the pianistic firmament.
This disc is available at Amazon here. Streaming below.
