Lugansky - Schumann, Piano Sonata No. 1

Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Piano Sonata No. 1 in F sharp minor (“Grosse Sonate“), Op. 11 (1833-1835) Nikolai Lugansky, 1994 [0:00] I. Introduzione. Un poco Adagio - Allegro vivace [10:36] II. Aria [14:10] III. Scherzo e Intermezzo. Allegrissimo [18:16] IV. Finale. Allegro un poco maestoso “The opening pages of Schumann’s Op 11 Sonata are clearly labelled as an ‘Introduzione’, though their fully formed melodic character lends them the aspect of a self-contained entity. Even when the theme of the introduction returns at the centre of the ensuing Allegro, its reappearance acts as an interruption to the music’s developmental flow, rather than being an integral part of it. It is true that the introduction focuses on the motif of the falling fifth which is to form the Allegro’s starting point, but its isolation from the main body of the movement is emphasized by its most unusual feature: the gentle melody that unfolds shortly after its beginning is the theme of the sonata’s slow movement. This startlingly ori