Schubert: Impromptu in A flat major, D899 No. 4

After his first CD devoted to Mompou, which attracted much favourable comment, Javier Perianes now turns to the 'short pieces' of Schubert. However, what the composer called 'impromptus' or 'Klavierstücke' went so far beyond the bounds of mere entertainment for amateurs that they were originally rejected by publishers on account of their difficulty.These 'lieder for solo piano', as one might term them, concentrate the myriad emotions to which Schubert alone possessed the key.

Javier Perianes studied with Richard Goode, Alicia de Larrocha and Daniel Barenboim, with whom he recently played Beethoven's 'Emperor' Concerto. He has appeared with many noted Spanish and international orchestras, under conductors as varied as Paul McCreesh, Kirill Petrenko, Josep Pons and Libor Pešek.

Reiko Fujisawa studied at the Musashino University of Music in Tokyo before moving to London in order to study further with Martino Tirimo, Bejamin Kaplin and Yonty Solomon. She has since established herself as an exciting and formidable virtuoso performer with recital and concert appearances throughout the UK, including the South Bank, Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall. Her first disc for Quartz admirably demonstrates her skilful use of the keyboard.