Catalogue | Piano

Two months before his death in 1828, Franz Schubert wrote three final piano sonatas which form the high point of his piano oeuvre. Above all, the A major Sonata, D 959 is characteristic of Schubert’s highly individual handling of sonata form. Figured themes, episodic extensions, but also rhythmic wit, bold outbursts and perfect proportions make it a Schubertian delicacy. Despite the high musical value of his compositions, the Viennese master’s production was already forgotten a few years after his death.
It was Robert Schumann who persistently pushed for a revival of the “great” C major Symphony of Schubert, thus turning the attention of the musical world towards the Viennese composer. Schumann also occupied himself intensively with sonata form: his “Faschingsschwank aus Wien” (Carnival Jest from Vienna) is an original attempt at an alternative to the sonata cycle. Outwardly continuing the idea of a series of character pieces that he had realised in “Carnival,” Schumann is less concrete in this work; it is marked by abrupt contrasts, varying between effervescent lightness and inward-looking reflection, wandering harmonies, passionate, fantasy-like expression and high virtuosity. Schumann follows his own advice in this sonata-in-disguise: “So go ahead and write sonatas or fantasias (what does the name matter?), but don’t forget the music, and implore the rest from the good genius.”

The pianist Hisako Kawamura, born in Japan and living in Germany, has won prizes at renowned international competitions. She won first prizes at the “Concours Clara Haskil” in Vevey, the “A. Casagrande International Piano Competition” in Terni, the “G.B. Viotti International Music Competition” in Vercelli and the “Chopin Competition” in Darmstadt; in addition she became laureate at the “Concours Géza Anda” in Zurich, the “ARD International Music Competition” in Munich and the “Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition” in Brussels. Numerous concert engagements have taken her through Germany, Europe and Japan. On the occasion of the Schumann anniversary audite presents her impressive debut recording as a redesigned digipack with new cover picture.

• American Record Guide | Becker | January 3, 2005

  The sound is excellent and, in SACD mode, there is an added openness and clarity. Hisako Kawamura was born in Japan in 1981 and is now based in...

• Audiophile Audition | Gary Lemco | May 1, 2005

  The debut recording for Hisako Kawamura (b. 1981), a pupil of Vladimir Krainev and a prizewinner at the Geza Anda Competition in Zurich 2003 has her...

• Classica-Répertoire | Philippe van den Bosch | January 10, 2004

  Lauréate de plusieurs concours internationaux, la pianiste Hisako Kawamura, Japonaise formée en Allemagne, notamment par Vladimir Krainev, effectue...

• Classix | Christoph Forsthoff | January 10, 2004

  Poetisch
  Richtig gehört: Es sind die zündenden Rhythmen aus der „Marseillaise“, die Schumann da ins Eröffnungs-Allegro gemogelt hat. Kecker Gruß an die...

• Diapason | Alain Lompech | January 10, 2004

  Sur un grand piano de concert Kawai EX, Hisako Kawamura a choisi de se présenter aux mélomanes avec le si peu enregistré Carnaval de Vienne de...

• Fono Forum | Ingo Harden | January 11, 2004

  Manuell perfekt
  Hisako Kawamura, die bei Vladimir Krainjew in Hannover studiert, legt ein Diskus-Debüt hin, an dem alles stimmt, was nur stimmen kann: Es ist manuell...

• klassik-heute.com | Peter Cossé | February 8, 2004

  Die „Leistungsbilanz“ der 23-jährigen japanischen Pianistin Hisako Kawamura ist eindrucksvoll. Nach Erfolgen bei kleineren nationalen und...

• ouverture Das Klassik-Blog | July 8, 2010

  1838/39, als Robert Schumann in Wien lebte, war Franz Schubert bereits so sehr Vergangenheit, dass sein Schaffen nahezu vergessen war. Es war...

• Piano News | Hans-Dieter Grünefeld | January 9, 2004

  Mit knapp 23 Jahre hat die in Japan geborene, in Deutschland lebende Hisako Kawamura ein erstaunliches Sensorium für romantische Klaviermusik. Beim...

• www.ClassicsToday.com | Jed Distler | October 10, 2004

  Born in Japan in 1981, Hisako Kawamura was raised and trained in Germany (where she is based) and has been a frequent fixture on the international...

• www.classicstodayfrance.com | Christophe Huss | August 6, 2004

  Cela commence à venir... Audite met un peu de temps avant d'apprivoiser la technologie SACD multicanal. Cette parution témoigne d'un pas en avant...

• www.SA-CD.net | Polly Nomial | July 8, 2006

  This disc showcases an artist who holds promise for the future. In this disc though, the performance of the Schubert sonata badly lets down the...