Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op.16 (Le Sage)

Le Sage's account of the Kreisleriana is rough. The music is stripped down to its most primitive qualities.
His impetuous fingers makes the fast movements reach levels of intensity that are seldom heard. No.3's Noch schneller is as ardent as it gets and No.7 is driven so hard you get a perfect illusion of loss of control.
Slower movements are dug very deep. No.4 sets an internal dialogue but doesn't let the tension drop the slightest, and No.6 is turned into a song without words that seems to float over the bar lines.
It's a dichotomous reading, characterized by moments of complete abandon which take the form of either wistful dreaming or feverish passion.

00:00 Intro
00:13 No.1: Äußerst bewegt (Extremely animated)
02:43 No.2: Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch (Very inwardly and not too quickly)
10:59 No.3: Sehr aufgeregt (Very agitated)
15:02 No.4: Sehr langsam (Very slowly)
18:31 No.5: Sehr lebhaft (Very lively)
21:34 No.6: Sehr langsam (Very slowly)
25:17 No.7: Sehr rasch (Very fast)
27:19 No.8: Schnell und spielend (Fast and playful)

The Schumann playlist:    • SCHUMANN