Schumann: Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 | Tiffany Poon, piano

A work of great versatility that demands a high level of virtuosity inspired by Beethoven. New York pianist Tiffany Poon played Robert Schumann's Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 at the Dresden Music Festival. The concert took place on June 17, 2023, at the Palais im Großen Garten.

(00:00) Coming on stage
(00:22) I. So rasch wie möglich
(05:58) II. Andantino. Getragen
(11:20) III. Scherzo. Sehr rasch und markiert
(12:56) IV. Rondo. Presto

Robert Schumann worked on Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 intermittently for a total of six years. It’s one of just three piano sonatas composed by Schumann, one of the most famous composers of the Romantic era. The theme of the second movement of the sonata is based on the song “Im Herbste,” which Schumann composed in 1828 as an accompaniment to the verses of the poet Justinus Kerner. After the song was reworked into a piano piece called “Papillote,” in which the 2/4 rhythm was changed to a 6/8 rhythm and the key was changed from E-flat major to C major, it was also included in 1830 in the second movement of the Sonata in G minor.

Three years later, in June 1833, Schumann composed the opening movement, in which, inspired by Beethoven, the secondary theme evolves out of the main theme. The burlesque and elegant Scherzo was also composed during this time. In October 1835, Schumann began composing the dizzying Rondo in 6/16 time, which constantly switches between duplets and triplets. Soon after, Schumann announced that the sonata had been “completed.”

Two years later, Schumann started work on the sonata again and showed it to Clara Wieck, who would later become his wife. She replied, “Your entire essence is expressed so clearly in this, and it’s not too difficult to follow. But I have just one remark: Do you want to keep the last movement as it previously was? Why don’t you make it more light-hearted, as it’s quite difficult at the moment. I understand it and I would also play it necessary, but the people, the audience, and even the experts – the ones you actually compose music for, they won’t understand. You won’t take this wrongly, right? As you asked me for my opinion as if you were my husband.”

In a letter written in March 1838, Schumann agreed with her: “You’re very right about the last movement of the sonata, I really much dislike it (apart from a few passionate moments), and I’ve decided to drop it completely”. Contrary to this statement, Schumann changed the first movement considerably in December 1838. He composed an entirely new rondo finale, which he himself classified as “very simple,” but which he also felt “fits well within” the other movements of the sonata.

The sonata appeared in print in September 1839. An erroneous version of the finale, which Schumann he had decided to discard, was published by Johannes Brahms in 1866. Schumann’s own version of the original finale was first published in 1981. This is the version Tiffany Poon played in her concert in Dresden.

The sonata appeared in print in September 1839. An erroneous version of the finale, which Schumann he had decided to discard, was published by Johannes Brahms in 1866. Schumann’s own version of the original finale was first published in 1981. This is the version Tiffany Poon played in her concert in Dresden.

Tiffany Poon was born in Hong Kong in 1996. She started taking piano lessons at age of four. She moved to New York when she was nine, where she attended the Juilliard School Pre-College program. Poon made her concert debut at the age of 10. She graduated from high school in 2014 and continued her piano studies in an 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 as a soloist. In 2017, she started a YouTube project to share a more personal side of herself. She has an impressive social media presence, with 320,000 followers on YouTube alone. Poon also works with the community through her charity, Together with Classical, which supports musicians during their education and brings together classical music lovers from around the world. Her new album with works by Robert Schumann, "Diaries: Schumann," has been available since February 9, 2024.

© 2023 Deutsche Welle

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