This is one of Claves Records' greatest adventures since it was founded 40 years ago. Robert Schumann's complete piano works in six double albums is a huge artistic challenge; comparable to that of Beethoven's complete works for piano solo on historical instruments in the '90s (CD 50-9707-10). Furthermore; there are not one but three pianists this time: Ireland's Finghin Collins and Switzerland's Cédric Pescia and Francesco Piemontesi.

The first two volumes; issued in 2006; were a fabulous success. Finghin Collins was honoured with Gramophone magazine's Editor's Choice for Volume I (CD 50-2601/02); and confidently went back to Berlin last autumn to record six new masterpieces with Johannes Kammann: apart from Schumann's virtuoso Abegg Variations op. 1; Volume III includes the Intermezzi op. 4; Etudes symphoniques op. 13; Nachtstücke op. 23; Carnaval de Vienne op. 26 and Bunte Blätter op. 99. Our first meeting with the Irish pianist dates from 1999 when he brilliantly won the Clara Haskil Competition in Vevey; an encounter that led to a first Mozart-Beethoven CD with the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne and Emmanuel Krivine (CD 50-9910) – ten years on; Finghinn Collins is just as true to himself: ever capable of roaring like thunder or blowing gentle tenderness. And with that little extra something which makes all the difference; charm.