Nicholas Daniel and Julius Drake play Robert & Clara Schumann works for oboe and piano

Nicholas Daniel and Julius Drake play Robert & Clara Schumann works for oboe and piano

CHAN 20295 (Chandos Records, CD)

FIRST RELEASE (23 August 2024)

Playing time: 75'41"
Tracks: 19
Booklet pages: 35
℗ 2024 Chandos Records Ltd
© 2024 Chandos Records Ltd
Main country of recording: United Kingdom
Reviewer: Geoff Pearce
Review of Nicholas Daniel and Julius Drake play Robert & Clara Schumann works for oboe and piano published on 14 September 2024

Nicholas Daniel, oboe
Julius Drake, piano

Robert Schumann:

Drei Romanzen, Op 94 (1849)
1 Nicht schnell
2 Einfach, innig - Etwas lebhafter - Im Tempo
3 Nicht schnell - Coda

Clara Schumann, edited for oboe by Nicholas Daniel:

Drei Romanzen, Op 22 (1853) for violin and piano
4 Andante molto
5 Allegretto. Mit zartem Vortrage
6 Leidenschaftlich schnell

Robert Schumann, edited for oboe, after the original manuscript, by Nicholas Daniel:

Fantasiestücke (Fantasy Pieces) in A minor, Op 73 (1849) for piano and clarinet
7 Zart und mit Ausdruck -
8 Lebhaft, leicht - Coda. Nach und nach ruhiger -
9 Rasch und mit Feuer - Coda - Schneller - Schneller

Robert Schumann, adapted for clarinet by Stephan Korody-Kreutzer (and performed here with oboe):

Three Pieces from 'Fünf Stücke im Volkston', Op 102 (1849) for cello and piano
10 Langsam
11 Nicht schnell, mit viel Ton zu spielen
12 Nicht zu rasch

Robert Schumann:

13 Mondnacht, Op 39 No 5 (1840) from Liederkreis for voice and piano, performed with oboe

Robert Schumann, arranged for clarinet and piano, then oboe and piano by Howard Ferguson, specially for Nicholas Daniel:

Three Duos (1845), originally for pedal piano (first recording)
14 Con molto [sic] espressione (Studien für den Pedal-Flügel: Sechs Stücke in kanonischer Form, Op 56 No 2)
15 Allegretto, Op 58 No 4 from Skizzen für den Pedal-Flügel
16 Kuntsch gewidmet. Con sincerita [Innig] –
Un poco più mosso [Etwas bewegter] - Tempo I (Studien für den Pedal-Flügel: Sechs Stücke in kanonischer Form, Op 56 No 4)

Robert Schumann, transcribed and edited for oboe by Humbert Lucarelli:

Adagio und Allegro in A flat major, Op 70 (1849) for Piano and Horn
17 Langsam, mit innigem Ausdruck (Adagio) -
18 Rasch und feurig (Allegro con brio) - Etwas ruhiger (Poco tranquillo) - Im ersten Tempo (Tempo I) - Schneller (Più mosso)

Robert Schumann, arranged for violin and piano by Joseph Joachim and performed with oboe:

19 Abendlied, Op 85 No 12 (1849) from Zwölf vierhändige Clavierstücke für kleine und große Kinder

Oboist Nicholas Daniel and pianist Julius Drake present a fascinating programme of chamber works by Robert and Clara Schumann. Most of the repertoire was composed for other instruments: transcribing for another instrument - in this case the oboe - is not only in keeping with performance practise of the time, but also presents these works in a new light.

Recorded 18-20 July 2023 in Potton Hall, Dunwich, Suffolk, UK.