Schumann: Complete Piano Trios and String Quartets; Phantasiest

Robert Schumann came relatively late to composing chamber music, having composed his first 23 opus numbers exclusively for the piano. In his piano works he could give his boundless fantasy free reign, chamber music however demands a stricter and more disciplined structure, and this Schumann solved in his own unique way. His chamber music, while never losing its intimacy of expression and full flight of imagination, is rooted in strong, often classical frameworks, a perfect synthesis of form and content.

This set contains the 3 string quartets and the 3 piano trios, masterpieces in their genre, and still slightly undervalued by the general audiences.

The Italian string quartet Quartetto Savinio ("the only worthy heir of the Quartetto Italiano" l'Unità) is joined by pianist Matteo Fossi in performances of deep understanding and passion. They already recorded chamber music by Dvorak and Shostakovich for DECCA.