Anton Kuerti

Pianist Anton Kuerti turns Schumann's notorious Sonata in G minor inside out, the 'notorious' arising from the super-human finger speed and power that the composer demands of the player. The first movement alone confronts the pianist with a well-nigh impossible task. The marking at the beginning is 'so rasch wie möglich' (as fast as possible); then in the coda 'schneller' (faster) and further on 'noch schneller' (even faster). However capricious such markings may seem, Schumann's musical intentions are nevertheless crystal clear. With great passion and fire, Anton Kuerti guides us through Schumann's convoluted thinking. He invariably plays the original finale that Schumann wrote for this sonata, a devilish 'Presto passionato', but withdrew after the sixteen-year-old Clara Wieck found it 'viel zu schwer' (much too difficult). Luckily, Brahms was able to rescue this brilliant and revolutionary piece of music after Schumann's death.