Description
The Young Schumann, the new release by British pianist Charles Owen, is a musical narrative of Robert Schumann's early career, featuring works written in the 1830s when the composer was in his 20s. His first two published works, Abegg Variations and Papillons, the impetuous six Intermezzi, Op. 4, and the characterful Carnaval, Op. 9, are all fuelled by some of Schumann's compositional hallmarks: his imagination and attraction to the fantastical, his love of ciphers and cryptograms, and his frequent quoting of each work within the others.
'Overall, this playing is meticulous, clean and restrained, a saner rendition of Robert Schumann's own mercurial, alternatingly introspective and exuberant character. But even if Owen's Schumann is better-behaved than we expect, the beautifully judged voicing and colours are a delight.' – BBC Music Magazine (3 stars)
Featured on BBC Radio 3's Record Review on 16th November: 'It feels like quite a grown-up interpretation, there is quite an adult approach to this repertoire and its beautifully executed. The disc as a whole is really beautifully put together.'