Schumann the Poet
- Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Robert Schumann
and his literary inspiration
Several of Schumann’s piano works were inspired by literary works, including his Waldszenen, Papillons and Kreisleriana. The son of a publisher, Schumann grew up surrounded by literature; he was extremely well-read and also wrote poetry. He wrote in his diary that he had felt the need to create something, if not with music then with words: clearly a musician who was also a man of letters. Music and literature are inseparable in Schumann’s creative spirit: many of his compositions were based on literary works, although these pieces were never literal transcriptions in sound of the original text. Schumann took rather the ideas behind the work; his fantasy and powers of expression then transformed them into sound. This CD explores Schumann’s deeply poetic and richly imaginative sound world.
Mitsuko Saruwatari was born in Tokyo and studied first at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo with Nobutatsu Kawashima and then at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam under Willem Brons. She then worked with John Bingham for two years in London.
Mitsuko Saruwatari is based in Amsterdam and appears frequently throughout Holland and abroad. Alongside her solo career she is the regular pianist for the Uriel Ensemble and has performed as a guest with many other chamber ensembles. Her ensemble repertoire includes a large proportion of the most important chamber works; her solo repertoire concentrates on works by Schumann, Schubert, Chopin, Ravel and Debussy.
Watch the album presentation on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2TYNXERODQ

Track listing
Kreisleriana Opus 16 | |||
1 | Außerst bewegt | 03:22 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
2 | Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch | 10:34 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
3 | Sehr aufgeregt | 05:20 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
4 | Sehr langsam | 04:00 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
5 | Sehr lebhaft | 03:52 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
6 | Sehr langsam | 04:18 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
7 | Sehr rasch | 02:23 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
8 | Schnell und spielend | 04:11 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
Waldszenen Opus 82 | |||
9 | Eintritt | 02:27 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
10 | Jäger auf der Lauer | 01:33 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
11 | Einsame Blumen | 02:10 | |
artists: composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
12 | Verrufene Stelle | 03:46 | |
artists: composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
13 | Freundliche Landschaft | 01:18 | |
artists: composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
14 | Herberge | 02:03 | |
artists: composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
15 | Vogel als Prophet | 03:09 | |
artists: composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
16 | Jagdlied | 02:39 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
17 | Abschied | 03:50 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
Papillons Opus 2 | |||
18 | Introduzione | 00:20 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
19 | No. 1 | 00:48 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
20 | No. 2 Prestissimo | 00:35 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
21 | No. 3 | 01:00 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
22 | No. 4 Presto | 01:03 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
23 | No. 5 | 01:20 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
24 | No. 6 | 01:06 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
25 | No. 7 Semplice | 00:56 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
26 | No. 8 | 01:15 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
27 | No. 9 Prestissimo | 00:48 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
28 | No. 10 | 02:27 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
29 | No. 11 Vivo | 03:29 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' | |||
30 | No. 12 Finale | 02:29 | |
artists: 'Mitsuko Saruwatari' composers: 'Robert Schumann (1810-1856)' |