This re-release of
Norman Shetler's Schumann Kinderszenen on Berlin Classic's Basic label is definitely that -- basic. From the rather cheap, flimsy packaging to the fact that there are no liner notes whatsoever, this is definitely a bare-bones recording. As programmatic as these works are, a discussion of what each movement is attempting to depict would seem quite necessary. Moving past the package, the recording itself has some ups and downs. The recorded sound of the piano is actually quite nice -- rich and full in the bass without being overly reverberant and crisp and defined in the treble.
Shetler is obviously a gifted pianist, and his abundant technique shines through. His working of the inner voices makes them noticeable without being overbearing, and his articulation of even the fastest passages is clean and refined.
Shetler also tries hard to be very musical -- a little too hard, actually. From the first movement of the Kinderszenen,
Shetler's attempts at rubato are overdone. The end of virtually every phrase is met with a large ritardando and there are constant swells of dynamics, the combination of which can leave listeners a bit seasick. While there are certainly lesser recordings of these works, there are also better ones, both in musicality of performance and content of packaging.