Carnival CD: Works by Robert Schumann, Susan Merdinger, Piano
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Susan Merdinger's Carnival CD has received rave reviews in Fanfare magazine, Classical Candor and the Audio-Video Club of Atlanta. A definite must-have for any pianophile looking to add to their CD collection. Also available in digital mp3 files and CD's at CDBaby, iTunes and Amazon.
REVIEWS:
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Susan Merdinger offered Schumann’s “Carnaval” with a daring, enormously joyous presentation which captured and transfixed the audience. Her fast and at the same time strong technique was unbelievable. Her defiant expression in the Davidsbundler March, which whirled to the conclusion with a breathtaking stringendo, was refreshing. Cries of bravos and enthusiastic applause were the thanks this musician received for her generously endowed gifts.”
Glasgow Herald
“There was plenty of youthful vigour and commitment to be heard in Schumann’s Carnaval, Op. 9 in which Mr. Merdinger showed that she was not afraid to take changes. Once again the solid technical foundation of the pianism stood her in good stead, with some tender and impassioned playing.”
Frankfurter Neue Presse
“The “Carnaval” by Schumann requires quick and spiritual reaction, the highest ability and experience. The pianist succeeded to make light work of these terms in a real sense”
Saarbrucken Zeitung
“The highlight of the evening was no doubt Robert Schumann’s Carnaval, Op. 9, a suite in which the characters of a carnival are portrayed. Susan Merdinger demonstrated here her total pianistic expression potentials, which range from steely force in the forte sections, to a glass clear mezzo-forte, to pastel-like soft tones in the piano passages. A long-lasting applause honored the great capabilities of this young artist....”
CREDITS:
Carnaval, Op. 9 recorded at WFMT Studio, Chicago, Illinois in April 2011. Mary Mazurek, Recording Engineer; Mark Travis, Editing and Sound Mastering Engineer. Steinway D Piano
Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op. 26, recorded at Nichols Hall, Music Institute of Chicago, Evanston, Illinois, in February 2012. Ed Ingold, Recording, Editing and Sound Mastering Engineer; Steinway D Piano.
CD Graphic Design: Leslie Gould Design.
Photography by Mike Canale and Rocco Marcelli.
Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Sheridan Music Studio
History of the Carnival:
A Carnival is historically a festive season usually immediately before Lent. The rich food and drink usually abstained from during Lent needed to be disposed of , thus a celebration was held.
Some Carnival traditions are thought to pre-date Christianity- such as the Ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Bacchanalia. Even perhaps the Jewish Festival of Purim, also which has become a festival involving games, dress- up and such is related, and comes at a similar of the year.
Typically a carnival involves a big celebration and parade combining elements of a masquerade, circus, street party.
The most famous of Carnivals originated in medieval Italy- with carnival parades and masquerade balls. Later on, Carnivals spread to the rest of the world- some of the most famous- Mardi Gras in Louisiana, Canival of Rio de Janeiro ( Brazil), to name a few.
Some theorize that the word “Carnaval” is derived from the Italian or Latin- Carne levare- meaning “ to remove meat”, since meat is prohibited during Lent. Folk legend says it comes from Carne Vale- meaning “farewell to meat”- since the Carnival was the last opportunity to eat meat before the fasting of Lent.
In Robert Schumann’s Carnaval, the small vignettes portray some of the Italian Commedia del Arte ( earliest form of Italian improvisational theatre/comedy) characters such as Pierrot, Arlequin, Pantalon and Columbine. Later these same characters spread to England and other parts of the world. Also, the pieces that comprise Carnaval depict some of Schumann’s friends and acquaintances, including his colleague and composer, Chopin,, famous violinist, Paganini, a girlfriend Ernestine von Fricken (Estrella) and his wife, Clara Wieck Schumann ( Chiarina).
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Susan Merdinger offered Schumann’s “Carnaval” with a daring, enormously joyous presentation which captured and transfixed the audience. Her fast and at the same time strong technique was unbelievable. Her defiant expression in the Davidsbundler March, which whirled to the conclusion with a breathtaking stringendo, was refreshing. Cries of bravos and enthusiastic applause were the thanks this musician received for her generously endowed gifts.”
Glasgow Herald
“There was plenty of youthful vigour and commitment to be heard in Schumann’s Carnaval, Op. 9 in which Mr. Merdinger showed that she was not afraid to take changes. Once again the solid technical foundation of the pianism stood her in good stead, with some tender and impassioned playing.”
Frankfurter Neue Presse
“The “Carnaval” by Schumann requires quick and spiritual reaction, the highest ability and experience. The pianist succeeded to make light work of these terms in a real sense”
Saarbrucken Zeitung
“The highlight of the evening was no doubt Robert Schumann’s Carnaval, Op. 9, a suite in which the characters of a carnival are portrayed. Susan Merdinger demonstrated here her total pianistic expression potentials, which range from steely force in the forte sections, to a glass clear mezzo-forte, to pastel-like soft tones in the piano passages. A long-lasting applause honored the great capabilities of this young artist....”
CREDITS:
Carnaval, Op. 9 recorded at WFMT Studio, Chicago, Illinois in April 2011. Mary Mazurek, Recording Engineer; Mark Travis, Editing and Sound Mastering Engineer. Steinway D Piano
Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op. 26, recorded at Nichols Hall, Music Institute of Chicago, Evanston, Illinois, in February 2012. Ed Ingold, Recording, Editing and Sound Mastering Engineer; Steinway D Piano.
CD Graphic Design: Leslie Gould Design.
Photography by Mike Canale and Rocco Marcelli.
Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Sheridan Music Studio
History of the Carnival:
A Carnival is historically a festive season usually immediately before Lent. The rich food and drink usually abstained from during Lent needed to be disposed of , thus a celebration was held.
Some Carnival traditions are thought to pre-date Christianity- such as the Ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Bacchanalia. Even perhaps the Jewish Festival of Purim, also which has become a festival involving games, dress- up and such is related, and comes at a similar of the year.
Typically a carnival involves a big celebration and parade combining elements of a masquerade, circus, street party.
The most famous of Carnivals originated in medieval Italy- with carnival parades and masquerade balls. Later on, Carnivals spread to the rest of the world- some of the most famous- Mardi Gras in Louisiana, Canival of Rio de Janeiro ( Brazil), to name a few.
Some theorize that the word “Carnaval” is derived from the Italian or Latin- Carne levare- meaning “ to remove meat”, since meat is prohibited during Lent. Folk legend says it comes from Carne Vale- meaning “farewell to meat”- since the Carnival was the last opportunity to eat meat before the fasting of Lent.
In Robert Schumann’s Carnaval, the small vignettes portray some of the Italian Commedia del Arte ( earliest form of Italian improvisational theatre/comedy) characters such as Pierrot, Arlequin, Pantalon and Columbine. Later these same characters spread to England and other parts of the world. Also, the pieces that comprise Carnaval depict some of Schumann’s friends and acquaintances, including his colleague and composer, Chopin,, famous violinist, Paganini, a girlfriend Ernestine von Fricken (Estrella) and his wife, Clara Wieck Schumann ( Chiarina).
