Lugansky - Schumann, Humoresque, Op. 20

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Humoresque in B flat major, Op 20 (1838-1839)
Nikolai Lugansky, 2017
Mariinsky Theatre

[0:00] Einfach - Sehr rasch und leicht 2:01 - Noch rascher 2:56 - Erstes Tempo 4:20 - Wie im Anfang 5:09
[5:50] Hastig - Nach und nach immer lebhafter und stärker 7:37 - Adagio 8:27 - Wie vorher 9:00
[10:08] Einfach und zart - Intermezzo 11:54 (- Erstes Tempo) 13:08
[14:44] Innig - Schneller 15:23 (- Erstes Tempo) 15:39
[17:16] Sehr lebhaft - Immer lebhafter 18:30 - Mit einigem Pomp 19:02
[20:50] Zum Beschluss - Allegro 26:02


"... Of whimsy, which is one of the meanings of the word humoresque, there is far more implied than real playfulness in the humoresque according to Schumann. Of the real, in one section a five-note idea is repeated as if it were a stutter before the phrase is continued. In appreciation of the work, one must rely on the composer’s explanation of humor as “a way of looking on the emotions with ironic detachment.” Thus the irony of music that continually changes outlook, that glories in the imposition of mood changes that seem so often to assault an emotional thread. This is a large-scale work without conscious formalism, musical thoughts streaming without inhibition: “laughing and crying.”

Orrin Howard