H
Llŷr Williams, who has previously performed the sonatas of Beethoven and Schubert for Signum, now focuses on Schumann’s piano music. It is uncertain if this two-disc set is the beginning of a larger survey. The notes on the cover do not give any indication, nor do they explain why Williams has chosen these six specific pieces. The selected works span from Schumann’s Opus 2, Papillons, written in 1831, to Faschingsschwank aus Wien Opus 26, composed eight years later. It includes two of his most well-known and esteemed piano works, the C major Fantasy Opus 17 and the Opus 6 cycle Davidsbündlertänze, as well as the lesser known Humoreske Opus 20 and the enigmatic, somber Nachstücke Opus 23.
Williams begins with the magnificent Fantasy, introducing its first section in expansive, almost dignified paragraphs. This approach is clearly meant to convey a serious and intense interpretation, compensating for any potential lack of impulsive excitement with intellectual depth. However, there is a ghostly lightness to the scherzo, with its technical challenges being easily navigated, and a truly lyrical flow to the finale, despite the emotions seeming somewhat restrained. Even in instances where his handling of the shorter pieces within the larger cycles may not feel as spontaneous and instinctive as it could be – for example, the beginning of the Humoreske appears overly calculated – the performances are consistently flawless, with a clear and logical execution. Overall, it is undeniably thoughtful and authoritative playing.
You can listen to it on Apple Music (above) or Spotify.
Source: theguardian.com
