Yael Weiss - Schumann: Works For Piano; Impromptus: Variations On A Theme By Clara Wieck, Op. 5 (2006)

From the first note, Yael Weiss' playing on this Schumann recital is suffused with poetry. Her opening Humoreske is tenderly colorful, her Klavierstücke in Fughettenform is mysteriously melancholy, her Impromptus über ein Thema con Clara Wieck is warmly passionate, her Geister-Variationen is sweetly lyrical, and her closing Phantasiestücke is oddly but deeply moving. One might wish Weiss' playing had more technical polish in the faster movements -- her hands in the "Sehr Lebhaft" from Humoreske is not quite together -- and more sheer muscle in the tougher movements -- her "Mit grösser Kraft" from the Wieck Impromptus is nowhere near powerful enough -- and might also wish her interpretations had more variety -- her tendency to focus on Schumann's musical beauty slights its rhythmic vivacity and weakens its formal clarity. Still, as a cogent program mixing well-known and lesser-known works played with deep sympathy and great affection, Weiss' Schumann recital makes enjoyable listening for anyone who loves the German Romantic composer. Koch's sound is warm, round, and full, but not clear enough to bring out the details in Schumann's piano writing and the nuances in Weiss' piano playing.