Schumann, Piano Concerto in A minor, op.54

Schumann dedicated his piano concerto to Ferdinand Hiller, but it was his wife Clara Schumann who premiered it on 1 January 1846 in Leipzig, thus ensuring its overwhelming success. Written after a profound study of the works of Bach, the piece bears no trace of learned polyphony or complex counterpoint. It seems to flow effortlessly, without flashy virtuosity or Beethovenian drama. Not surprisingly, it is one of the most popular piano concertos in the repertoire. Following the cycles of orchestral works by Mahler, Beethoven and Brahms, Unitel chose to honor Robert Schumann in 1984/85 with this cycle performed by the Vienna Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein. Schumann's orchestral works are firmly established in the repertoire of the Vienna Philharmonic. The glowing, romantic sound of this orchestra and Leonard Bernstein's expressive interpretation complement each other in an ideal way to produce a perfect rendering of Schumann's symphonic oeuvre. Schumann's four symphonies, his piano concerto, the violoncello concerto and the Manfred Overture have been filmed and recorded in the "Golden Hall" of the Vienna Musikverein, held to rank acoustically among the world's best halls. The soloists are Justus Frantz, piano, and the cellist Mischa Maisky.