Decca doesn't do Schumann justice

Pianist Nelson Freire performs four piano works by Schumann

Composer: Schumann
Repertoire: Piano works - Carnaval; Papillons; Kinderszenen; Arabeske
Artists: Nelson Freire (piano)
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Instrumental
Label: Decca 473 902-2

Freire here proves himself a master of fantasy and of the extrovert-introvert axis that lies at the heart of Schumann’s musical personality. Listen to any one of the 47 miniatures here, and you’ll find the poetic narrative which lies behind it revealed before your ears. That said, Freire’s quicksilver responses occasionally come perilously close to undermining Schumann’s musical aims, and Decca’s piano sound is also a bit clattery for such sublime music.