Heinz Holliger s lifelong fascination with the music of Robert Schumann finds further expression on this newest release: on Aschenmusik, a new interpretation of the Swiss oboist-composer s Romancendres is framed by Schumann s own works. Romancendres refers to the lost Cello Romances which Clara Schumann burned on Brahms s advice, an act of destruction which outraged Holliger and fueled the composition of this music from the ashes in 2003. It s a portrait of Schumann, and its central movements contain numerous quotations and messages. Romancendres is prefaced by Schuman s Romances for oboe and piano, masterpieces which have been part of Holliger s repertoire for 60 years, and by the rarely-played Studies in Canon Form which find Holliger on the oboe d amore. The album closes with Schumann s first sonata for violin and piano, with cello substituting for violin. Holliger: Schumann himself thought it could also be played on a cello. I find it grandiose with this combination of instruments. Strong performances by Holliger himself and by Anita Leuzinger, solo cellist from the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, and by Austrian pianist Anton Kernjak make this album another important addition to Heinz Holliger s ECM discography. Aschenmusik is released in the wake of Holliger s 75th birthday.
