So rediscovered Schumann's Symphonic Etudes yesterday and spent a while scouting for good recordings. I liked very much two of the better-known recordings- Perahia's clean and crisp as usual, and Pogorelich, also characteristically, thoughtful yet dramatic- but I also got a God-sent recommendation to listen to Shura Cherkassky. I found a tragically underwatched live 1992 performance on YouTube. I hadn't heard Schumann being played with this kind of ferocity and drama since listening to Slåttebrekk's take on the Kreisleriana.
Also- the piece itself is great, but I have a special love for the 3rd study, which is one of the most beautiful yet weird things Schumann ever wrote (ranking up alongside his Dawn Songs).
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