--- product_id: 14895053 title: "Piano Works" price: "€ 44.32" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 7 url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/14895053-piano-works store_origin: AT region: Austria --- # Piano Works **Price:** € 44.32 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Piano Works - **How much does it cost?** € 44.32 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/14895053-piano-works) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description FREIRE NELSON SCHUMANN: CARNAVAL / PAPILLONS / KINDERS Review: The highlight is a vibrant 'Carnaval' that seems invented on the spot - All the previous reviews have been by fans who find this Schumann program from Nelson Freire self-recommending. I approached it not having heard Freire in decades. Here he is from 2002, in his late fifties, playing on a vintage Steinway in Milan. At first the instrument gave me pause. Decca found an exquisite modern piano for Freire's Chopin, but the timbre of this one is buzzy when the strings are struck hard, and there's not the rich fullness I'd hoped to hear. But those considerations are minor and rarely figure when Freire plays softly. The real success here is Freire's bold, extrovert Carnaval. Schumann's piano writing invites pianists to express themselves freely with plentiful rubato, romantic rhapsodizing, and strong contrasts between light and dark. But Carnaval is essentially joyous and vibrant all the way through, with a few excusions into limpid lyricism. Freire is very free with tempos, and he has Richter's habit of leaning impatiently into the line, which can be quite exciting. Carnaval suits this approach; the result is one of the most vital readings I've heard in a long time, totally free of fussiness, seemingly improvised on the spot. (If only he had slowed down and been more tender in the portrait of Chopin, no. 12.) But Papillons and Kinderszenen are not quite as compelling. Leaning constantly into the tempo makes both cycles feel restless and ungrounded. I didn't get the impression that Freire was paying enough attention to each individual number, nor was he willing to change his style to suit their differences -- everything becomes free form and slightly pushed. But that's not to cite any faults; I imagine my interest would be rekindled if I weren't listening to the whole CD at one sitting. If you want a superb Carnaval that sounds different Michelangeli's and Uchida's (to name two personal favorites), and which avoids Kissin's heaviness and Kempff's brittleness (to name two non-favorites), Freire is a lovely alternative. Review: Five Stars - wonderful, a latter-day Schnabel. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B0000AKOK6 | | Best Sellers Rank | #183,717 in CDs & Vinyl ( See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl ) #4,820 in Chamber Music (CDs & Vinyl) | | Customer Reviews | 5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars (9) | | Date First Available | September 2, 2000 | | Label | Decca | | Language | English | | Manufacturer | Decca | | Number of discs | 1 | | Original Release Date | 2003 | | Product Dimensions | 4.92 x 5.59 x 0.51 inches; 3.53 ounces | ## Images ![Piano Works - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81sV8OA2EsL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The highlight is a vibrant 'Carnaval' that seems invented on the spot *by H***T on April 29, 2009* All the previous reviews have been by fans who find this Schumann program from Nelson Freire self-recommending. I approached it not having heard Freire in decades. Here he is from 2002, in his late fifties, playing on a vintage Steinway in Milan. At first the instrument gave me pause. Decca found an exquisite modern piano for Freire's Chopin, but the timbre of this one is buzzy when the strings are struck hard, and there's not the rich fullness I'd hoped to hear. But those considerations are minor and rarely figure when Freire plays softly. The real success here is Freire's bold, extrovert Carnaval. Schumann's piano writing invites pianists to express themselves freely with plentiful rubato, romantic rhapsodizing, and strong contrasts between light and dark. But Carnaval is essentially joyous and vibrant all the way through, with a few excusions into limpid lyricism. Freire is very free with tempos, and he has Richter's habit of leaning impatiently into the line, which can be quite exciting. Carnaval suits this approach; the result is one of the most vital readings I've heard in a long time, totally free of fussiness, seemingly improvised on the spot. (If only he had slowed down and been more tender in the portrait of Chopin, no. 12.) But Papillons and Kinderszenen are not quite as compelling. Leaning constantly into the tempo makes both cycles feel restless and ungrounded. I didn't get the impression that Freire was paying enough attention to each individual number, nor was he willing to change his style to suit their differences -- everything becomes free form and slightly pushed. But that's not to cite any faults; I imagine my interest would be rekindled if I weren't listening to the whole CD at one sitting. If you want a superb Carnaval that sounds different Michelangeli's and Uchida's (to name two personal favorites), and which avoids Kissin's heaviness and Kempff's brittleness (to name two non-favorites), Freire is a lovely alternative. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars *by R***R on June 24, 2017* wonderful, a latter-day Schnabel. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Freire’s technical finesse and exquisite musicality *by P***N on October 18, 2013* Today the great Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire is turning 69. With a hugely acclaimed international career spanning more than 50 years, Freire continues to delight audiences world-wide in stunning live performances and on fabulous recordings as well. It is an obvious fact that he favours mostly the romantic repertoire, with a special affinity for Chopin, Schumann and Liszt. His pianistic technique of great finesse and an exquisite musicality entitles Freire to approach pieces from the inside, not merely interpreting them but living them with a deep insight and refined feeling. It’s the case with this CD where Freire offers a seductive reading of Schumann’s miniature cycles Carnaval op.9, Papillons op.2 and Kinderszenen op.15, along with Arabeske op.18. Released a decade ago, this stands as a benchmark in Schumann piano recordings catalogue. Don’t hesitate to acquire this five-star CD to celebrate one of the foremost musicians of our time! Happy birthday, Nelson Freire! --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/14895053-piano-works](https://www.desertcart.at/products/14895053-piano-works) --- *Product available on Desertcart Austria* *Store origin: AT* *Last updated: 2026-04-23*