Robert Schumann: Kinderszenen, Op. 15 | Tiffany Poon, piano

Robert Schumann's "Kinderszenen” ("Scenes from Childhood") is one of the most popular piano works of the Romantic period. The highlight of the 13-part piano cycle is the "Träumerei" (Dreaming). The work is considered the epitome of romantic piano compositions. New York pianist, Tiffany Poon, played Robert Schumann's "Kinderszenen", Op. 15 at the Dresden Music Festival 2023. The concert took place on June 17, 2023, at the Palais im Großen Garten.

(00:00) Coming on stage
(00:21) 1. Von fremden Ländern und Menschen (Of Foreign Lands and Peoples)
(02:02) 2. Kuriose Geschichte (A Curious Story)
(03:07) 3. Hasche-Mann (Blind Man's Buff)
(03:39) 4. Bittendes Kind (Pleading Child)
(04:39) 5. Glückes genug (Happy Enough)
(05:17) 6. Wichtige Begebenheit (An Important Event)
(06:09) 7. Träumerei (Dreaming)
(08:51) 8. Am Kamin (At the Fireside)
(09:47) 9. Schumann Ritter vom Steckenpferd (Knight of the Hobbyhorse)
(10:32) 10. Fast zu ernst (Almost Too Serious)
(12:40) 11. Fürchtenmachen (Frightening)
(14:13) 12. Kind im Einschlummern (Child Falling Asleep)
(16:16) 13. Der Dichter spricht (The Poet Speaks)

Robert Schumann's "Kinderszenen" was composed in 1838 and published the following year without a dedication and with the misleading subtitle "Easy Pieces for the Pianoforte." Unlike the "Album for the Young," which Schumann had composed for "younger children" in his own words, he did not write the "Kinderszenen" for children, but for adults reflecting on their own childhood. At first, the cycle was to be titled "Children's Stories" and preceded or appended to the "Novelettes," Op. 21. However, Schumann later refrained from doing so. He wanted to have the "Kinderszenen" published as a separate opus. Although the work was not very successful during the composer's lifetime, it eventually evolved independently and was highly regarded. It had a significant influence on the Romantic program miniature for piano.

In addition, the "Kinderszenen" resembled a soundtrack that was associated with Robert Schumann's and Clara Wieck's relationship. It is clear from an exchange of letters that Schumann firmly believed that he would marry the pianist and composer. On March 11, 1839, he wrote: "Do you have my 'Kinderszenen' now? Dearest, allow my op. 15 to remind you of my and our future and give me a sincere, blissful kiss, your Robert, who loves you with all his soul." To which she replied on March 22: "To whom did you dedicate your "Kinderszenen"? Isn't it true they belong only to the two of us, and I can't get them out of my mind. They are so simple, so cozy, so completely 'you.' I can't wait to play them again tomorrow." The wedding took place on September 12, 1840.

Tiffany Poon was born in Hong Kong in 1996. She started taking piano lessons at four. At nine, she moved to New York, where she attended the Juilliard School Pre-College program. Poon made her concert debut at 10. She graduated high school in 2014 and continued her piano studies as part of the exchange program between Columbia University and The Juilliard School. Poon also studied philosophy. In 2018, she graduated from Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts. Today, she performs worldwide both with an orchestra and solo. In 2017, she started a YouTube project to share a more personal side. She has an impressive social media presence, with 320,000 followers on YouTube alone. Poon also engages with the community, her charity "Together with Classical" supports musicians during training and brings classical music lovers from all over the world together. Her new album with works by Robert Schumann "Diaries: Schumann" will be available from February 9, February 2024.

Fun fact: The idea to include the 13-part cycle on the program for the Dresden concert came to Poon on a concert tour: "I thought of this Dresden concert program at the Heathrow airport in front of a toy store. And I was looking at a bunch of stuffed animals. And I thought: Kinderszenen."

© 2023 Deutsche Welle

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