Clara Schumann

The Naxos coupling of Clara Schumann's Piano Concerto (with Francesco Nicolosi) and Piano Trio was a MusicWeb 'Recording of the Month' review. Now along comes this Tudor offering, providing strong competition and there’s an extra work thrown in. Veronica Jochum - yes, his daughter - is a more than able pianist. She has the advantage of a well-respected orchestra behind her which brings drama and a brisk approach to the opening. The recording has a fine depth but someone was perhaps a little too lavish with the reverb, I would suggest.

One of Britain’s best-known musicians, Nicholas Daniel OBE won the BBC Young Musician competition in 1980, after which he quickly established his career, travelling all over the world, broadcasting widely, and making his début at the BBC Proms. He has premièred hundreds of works for the oboe and made many critically acclaimed recordings of both new and familiar music. As a soloist he has appeared with the world’s leading orchestras, performing a huge range of repertoire and premièring works written specially for him by many of the world’s greatest composers. He is a founder member of the Britten Sinfonia, Haffner Wind Ensemble, Orsino Ensemble, and Britten Oboe Quartet.

Wife of Robert Schumann, Clara Wieck Schumann was a great piano virtuoso. She also was a wonderful composer of piano works. Korean-born pianist Junghwa Lee brings these works to life with vital performances. Junghwa Lee performs actively in solo recitals, chamber concerts and lecture recitals, and has frequently appeared in concerto performances as a soloist including those with the Korean Symphony Orchestra, Salina Symphony Orchestra, Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra and Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra among others.