SCHUBERT / SCHUMANN

Havard Gimse With Henning Kraggerud

Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata D 821

1. Allegro Moderato

2. Adagio

3. Allegretto

Schumann: Kinderszenen Op. 15

4. Von fremden Ländern und Menschen, G major

5. Kuriose Geschichte, D major

6. Hasche-Mann, B minor

7. Bittendes Kind, D major

8. Glückes Genug, D major

9. Wichtige Begebenheit, A major

10. Träumerei, F major

11. Am Kamin, F major

12. Ritter vom Steckenpferd, C major

13. Fast zu ernst, G-sharp minor

14. Fürchtenmachen, E minor

15. Kind im Einschlummern, E minor

16. Der Dichter spricht, G major

Schubert: Piano Sonata in A Minor D 784

17. Allegro Giusto

18. Andante

19. Allegro Vivace

Håvard Gimse (from Kongsvinger, Norway) has steadily established himself as one of Scandinavia’s leading pianists. In 1987 he won 1st prize in the "Jugend Musiziert Competition" and Gimse is recipient of the prestigious "Grieg Prize" (1996), the "Steinway Prize" (1995) and recently the Norwegian Sibelius Society’s "Sibelius Prize" (Nov 2004).

His distinct and rich musical palette reflect his artistic strength, experienced from early years and developed through extensive and varied concert activities. His repertory is equally broad, already including more than 30 concertos performed with orchestra, numerous solo works and chamber music programs. As a recitalist and chamber musician Gimse has successfully performed in Wigmore Hall "Young Master’s Series", Carnegie Hall Weill Recital & Zankel Halls, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, St.Petersburg Philharmonic Great Hall, Suk Hall Prague, Konzerthaus Berlin, New York Frick Collection and National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

On this latest album, Gimse is joined by the talented young violist Henning Kraggerud for Schubert’s popular Arpeggione Sonata, a work originally composed for piano and guitarre d'amour, or arpeggione, a short lived instrument invented Johann Georg Stauffer in the 1820’s.

Gimse then turns his attention to Schumann’s Kinderszenen Op. 15 and Schubert’s piano sonata D 784, two nicely contrasted works.

Rarely is a pianist so at ease as Havard Gimse. The mechanics of playing seemed to come naturally, so that he could concentrate on listening to himself. The Independent

Norwegian pianist Håvard Gimse has proved a sensitive and imaginative advocate of this repertoire and here he is at his distinguished best. BBC Music Magazine

Naim Audio NAIMCD104