Schumann: Arabeske in C major, Op. 18

Schumann's music is descriptive and poetic. He was, after Wagner, surely the most important writer of musical commentary among the musicians of his time, while his piano cycles like Papillons, Davidsbündlertänze, Carnaval, Kinderszenen and Kreisleriana couple personal feelings with poetic aspects.

For about ten years, up to op. 23, Schumann wrote exclusively for the piano; it had been his instrument from the time of his youth, an affinity he shared with his later friend Frédéric Chopin, who was born in the same year as he was.

The opus numbers of the four works on this CD follow directly upon one another, having been written in the same short period (1838/39); in spite of their differences in form, length and content, they have much in common.

The deeply personal Davidsbündlertänze –18 dances inspired by the imaginary ‘league of David’, the Arabeske -peaceful, equable and timeless, the Gesänge der Frühe - odes to the sunrise: all works on this cd are linked with powerful personal emotions of the composer.

For Giacometti recording these works - that have been part of his musical development through the years - has been a long nourished dream.

Paolo Giacometti records exclusively for Channel Classics. His impressive discography has been widely acclaimed by the international press. His recordings include Rossini’s complete piano works, a remarkable project that started in 1998. In Rossini’s homeland critics say: "… Rossini has finally found his pianist …". For the third recording of this series Giacometti was distinguished with the Edison Classical Music Award 2001.

Paolo Giacometti’s recording of Schumann’s Humoreske, Fantasiestücke and Toccata has received the BBC Music Magazine’s Benchmark and Performance of Outstanding Quality distinctions. His recording of the Dvorák and Schumann piano concertos have been acclaimed by Gramophone as "… one of the best concerto disks I have heard in a long while …". Among his chamber music recordings, a recording with works by Schubert with cellist Pieter Wispelwey has received the Choc du Monde de la Musique and Luister 10 awards, while another recording with works by Chopin, Fauré and Poulenc, also with Pieter Wispelwey, has been awarded the Diapason d’or. Paolo Giacometti is also a dedicated piano professor at the Utrecht Conservatory of Music.

Andras Schiff said of Horszowski’s Chopin: ‘It’s as though he had written the music himself. It’s unbelievably unpredictable, and yet it’s completely natural, and comes from within the composition. I learned a great deal about rubato from Horszowski, because he uses it in a way that’s like Chopin must have done: he never loses the pulse, and yet it’s played with great freedom.’