Fanfare 5
*****
A great debut recital combining well-known masterpieces and some more obscure piano music.

SCHUMANN Kinderszenen, op. 15. Fantasie, op. 17. SIBELIUS 10 Pieces, op. 24, Nos. 1, 8, 9. Impromptu, op. 5, No. 5  David Munk-Nielsen (pn)  OUR 8.226938 (65:30)

Between Fire and Ice is the title of Munk-Nielsen’s debut disc. The juxtaposition of German Romantic and Nordic piano compositions is inventive and works quite well. Four pieces (about 14 minutes) by Finland’s national composer, Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), are sandwiched in between two of Robert Schumann’s best piano works. The Sibelius pieces are longer and more complex than the 13 movements of Kinderszenen. These more virtuosic pieces make for a good transition to the drama of the great Fantasie, an unquestionable masterpiece of piano literature. This work is noted for its dual nature, exemplified by the poetic introspection of Eusebius and the fiery intensity of Florestan. Munk-Nielsen came up with the title of this release to reflect on his Scandinavian roots and his dedication to the storytelling nature of Romantic piano music.
Lyricism and variety have long been the attraction to Kinderszenen. I personally feel that Schuman was a true master of short musical pieces. His collections of piano pieces and songs have been a part of my musical knowledge for over 60 years now. These were supposedly inspired by Clara’s comment that he sometimes seemed “like a child”. The seventh piece, Träumerei, is Schumann’s best-known piece. I have enjoyed Munk–Nielsen’s performance of these pieces that capture a certain nostalgia as seen through more mature eyes.
The choice of Sibelius piano pieces means that these seldom played or recorded pieces get a chance to be heard. These are such a convincing performances that most will want to further explore this side of a composer most noted for his symphonic music. The music is readily available online at IMSLP and were it not for Munk-Nielsen, I probably would have never looked these over. I found carefully notated music with a lot of attention to dynamic phrasing and a fair number of chords spanning more than an octave. According to Glenn Gould “Sibelius never wrote against the grain of the keyboard.... In Sibelius’s piano music everything works, everything sings—but on its own terms.”
Schumann’s Fantasie was published in 1839 and dedicated to Liszt. The large, three-movement, sonata-sized piece is established as one of the masterpieces of piano repertoire. Long before recordings, Liszt, one of the few pianists alive that could have met the demands of the Fantasie (especially the middle movement leaps) is said to have the played it privately for Schumann. Munk-Nielsen now plays it for us in a solid, romantic interpretation, with excellent sound. He has no technical limitations and can convey every detail of Schumann’s writing without ever losing the big grand gestures and overall sweep of this masterpiece. James Harrington