Schumann: Fantasiestucke OP 12; Kreisleriana; Brahms: Variations in D Minor

Imogen Cooper (piano)

Chandos CHAN 10755

“Duality, intermingling and juxtaposing identities, the dream world, the subconscious, wild humour, the supernatural, disguise, madness, the outsider: such is the inner world of

Robert Schumann

, ” writes Imogen Cooper. Her playing of the Op 12 Fantasy Pieces and Kreisleriana often sounds quite simply gorgeous. But there’s a dreaminess, a willingness to linger while she attends to the next beautiful sonority, which can allow the narrative to slacken, even sometimes to sag. The rich Theme and Variations from Brahms’s String Sextet, Op 18, arranged as a birthday present for

Clara Schumann

, are more solid. url.ie/f1f2