Brahms - Schumann

Album review

Even from their album cover in which the two musicians are running through the ferns, it’s evident that violinist Fanny Robilliard and pianist Paloma Kouider are a charming duo. The image, which is perhaps anecdotal, is conjured up at the beginning of their latest album when listening to “Mid leidenschaflichem Ausdruck” (With passionate expression). It runs through the entire initial movement of Robert Schumann’s First Sonata for Violin and Piano, premiered by Ferdinand David and Clara on the piano during a celebratory “Schumann Week” in Leipzig, in 1852.

This uplifting album has been designed and dedicated entirely to the love and friendship that united the Schumann couple and the young Brahms. It also features the work of Albert Dietrich, the third member of this trio of composers who composed the F-A-E Sonata but who is often forgotten. That particular sonata was written for Joseph Joachin and was a musical cryptogram based on his motto in life, ‘Frei aber einsam’ (‘Free but alone’). At its premiere, with Clara on the piano once again, Joachim had to match each composer to their movement, which he managed to do without a moment’s hesitation. As is well known, Clara was always at the heart of these friendly interchanges. It is only fitting, therefore, to find her at the centre of this album which features the splendid Three Romances for Violin and Piano, Op. 22, whose movements have been divided among the works of the other composers. Among them is also the benevolent Joseph Joachim, whose memory is echoed in all of the works of this beautiful album. © François Hudry/Qobuz