lfred Cortot was renowned above all as a pianist whose interpretations, especially of the works of Schumann, Debussy and Chopin, were often on a spiritual level.This 1953 performance of Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 2 is his fifth and final commercial recording of the work (the 1928 recording is available on Naxos 8.111065; the 1927 recording is unissued). Cortot wanted to record the work again partly because he felt his interpretation would be ‘an example for the young pianists, who are so little imbued with the Romantic spirit’. His 1953 and third recording of Schumann’s Kinderszenen is notable for the familiar singing tone and poetic warmth he brings to Kind im Einschlummern (Child falling asleep) and Der Dichter spricht (The poet speaks). Cortot’s interpretation of the youthful romanticism of Carnaval is full of colour and character,far preferable to bland and uninspired subsequent accounts from lesser pianists.

匈牙利作曲家György Kurtág依照舒曼相同的中提琴、單簧管與鋼琴三重奏編制，所寫成Hommage à R. Sch.(向R. Sch. 致敬

Deutsche Grammophon is very excited to release two recordings of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli that have never been released before. Recorded by Deutsche Grammophon in Paris in 1984, this live performance of the Schumann Piano Concerto, with the Orchestre de Paris under Daniel Barenboim, was never approved by the maestro, a notorious perfectionist. 25 years after the recording, his widow, Madame Giuliana, has graciously granted permission. In addition, DG was able to locate more unreleased Michelangeli tapes--this time of solo works recorded in Paris in 1982, apparently during a pause in the set-up for a televised recording of the Ravel Piano Concerto in G. It seems incredible, but Michelangeli simply played through four of the Debussy Images--which he had famously recorded for DG in 1971. These are single, live takes of "Reflets dans l'eau," "Hommage à Rameau," "Cloches à travers les feuilles" and "Poissons d'or": poised, marvelously virtuosic performances.