Brahms, Chopin, Schubert & Schumann

Brahms: Theme and Variations in D minor from the String Sextet Op18
Schubert: Unfinished Sonata in F Minor DV 625 3.
Chopin: Rondo a la Mazurka 4.
Schumann: Davidsbundlertanze, Op 6

IAN HOLTHAM (piano)

Tall Poppies TP819

This is a welcome collection of major but relatively unknown works by leading composers of the "romantic piano canon", all in warm and technically assured accounts from this Melbourne pianist and pedagogue. He studied with illustrious pianists in the'70s and also composition and conducting at London's Guildhall School of Music.

It is fair to characterize Schumann's Davidsbundlertanze (33 mins) as both his "most significant and by far the least performed" of the composer's major piano cycles and hedoes it goodjustice here to prove the point.

If, like me, you prefer thoughtful programme planning to intégrales, this is a CD recital to enjoy.

Peter Grahame Woolf