Schumann and Brahms from Benjamin Grosvenor
Benjamin Grosvenor’s seventh album on Decca Classics is released today. This carefully-curated selection of solo piano works by the Schumanns and Brahms weaves a fascinating history through the lives and music of three of the most important figures in nineteenth-century music. The album opens with Robert’s Kreisleriana – a tempestuous masterpiece of intricate dialogues – and also includes Brahms’ reflective Intermezzi op.117, as well as the somewhat undeservedly unknown Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann by Clara.
The release has already received high praise:
“Were I to overlay these superb recordings… with a sheet of shellac (ie, ‘78’) surface noise then bend them with such vintage distorting sonic impediments as ‘wow’ and ‘flutter’ I might ask you to hazard a guess as to who is playing. Aside from Horowitz and Cortot, you might go for Rachmaninoff, Gieseking, Kempff or Solomon. All perhaps find a presence of sorts in the musical soul of BENJAMIN GROSVENOR, a pianist who for my money has no equal among his living rivals” – Rob Cowan
“few hit the sweet spot as artfully as Benjamin Grosvenor … this is an album that reaffirms Grosvenor’s status as one of the most accomplished pianists around.” – Peter J Rabinowitz, Gramophone, Editor’s Choice
Currently mid-way through a ten date recital tour in North America, Benjamin can be heard performing Kreisleriana live in recital in Berlin, Mainz and at the Sage Gateshead – where he is Artist in Residence – this May.