Description:

Masumi Arai, a pianist who taught at the Berlin University of the Arts for 60 years, produced this album as the culmination of her musical life, and includes works by Mozart and Schumann, with whom she has deep sympathy. The title piece, "Kreisleriana," is a music in which Schumann projects himself onto a character in E.T.A. Hoffmann's novel, and the music itself is like a novel. Arai's naturalistic piano playing is full of deep meaning and gently leads the listener into the musical world of Mozart and Schumann, just like a virtuoso reciter. (C)RS