Schumann & Brahms centres around Robert Schumann’s Kreisleriana, a sonic rollercoaster of varied emotions which his wife Clara at times deemed too sinister. Clara’s Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, for piano in F Sharp minor, Op. 20 are performed exquisitely on this album, along with Intermezzi (3), Op. 117 from their friend Johannes Brahms.

Benjamin is widely considered to be one of the most important pianists today with an exceptional talent. This album is Benjamin’s seventh album with Decca, after becoming the youngest artist ever signed to them in 2011. Benjamin holds many prestigious awards including Diapason d’Or de l’année, several Gramophone Awards, and was the winner of the BBC Young Musician’s keyboard section aged 11.

We feature excerpts from this album in our playlist Weekend Classics. Benjamin also features in our playlist Nocturne.