Schumann, 'Drei Fantasiestucke, Op. 73' / 2020 Brisbane Music Festival, Highlights

Shuhei Lawson / Cello

Alex Raineri / Piano

Live performance from the 2020 Brisbane Music Festival 'Streamed Series'.

Jai Farrell / Audio Engineer & Videographer

The 'Op.73 Fantasiestucke' (Fantasy Pieces) by Robert Schumann date from 1849 and feature an almost obsessive oscillation between light and darkness – internal reflection to extroverted virtuosic brilliance. This huge emotive range embodies the notion of fantasia and demands from the interpreters of this music a broad scope of interpretative responsibility in bringing the narrative of the music to light in a clear, meaningful and personalised way. The arc of the three pieces as a whole follows one of gradual intensification – beginning softly and brooding, and rocketing to a finale filled with jubilance and virtuosity.