Schumann’s piano output contains only 2 sonatas (3 if the Op.14 concerto without orchestra is included), the reason being that he was not at all comfortable working within the classical structures, preferring freer structures. The masterpieces – the Fantasy Op.17, the Humoreske Op.20, Carnaval, Pappilons, Kreisleriana and the Symphonic Etudes - rank among the greatest works in the piano repertoire. The torrent of imagination and emotion Schumann poured into these works is extraordinary by any standards.

These 13 CDs contain his entire output for solo piano, plus his only completed piano concerto (again his problem with classical forms lead him to abandon 2 other piano concertos), which has become one of the best loved piano concertos in the repertoire.

‘What I enjoyed most is Brautigam's vitality— vitality of imagination no less than of fingers. You are immediately gripped by his plunge into the Op.8 Allegro, with its arresting octave 'motto'. His mercurial fancy and ear for hidden melodic strands in the ensuing stream certainly makes nonsense of hasty dismissal of this work as mere old-style virtuoso note-spinning. Moreover, such is his unflagging impulse in the eight Novelletten that never for a moment are you tempted to accuse Schumann of overrepetitively patterned figuration’. - Gramophone June 1994

Contents:
CD 1 [62’10]
· Kreisleriana
· Fantasie in C

CD 2 [50’06]
· Piano Sonatas 1 & 2

CD 3 [51’18]
· Piano Concerto
· Faschingsschwank aus Wien

CD 4 [70’50]
· Fantasiestücke Op.12
· Waldszenen
· Arabeske
· Kinderszenen

CD 5 [79’05]
· Allegro Op.8
· Noveletten
· Fantasiestücke Op.111
· Gesänge der Frühe

CD 6 [79’49]
· Album für die Jugend

CD 7 [73’07]
· Carnaval
· Nachtstücke Op.23
· Toccata Op.7
· Klavierstücke Op.32
· Presto passionato

CD 8 [66’41]
· ABEGG Variations
· Intermezzi Op.4
· Symphonische Etüden

CD 9 [73’22]
· Davidsbündlertänze
· Papillons
· Concert sans orchestre

CD 10 [67’28]
· Impromptus on a Theme by Clara Wieck
· Humoreske Op.20
· Neues Album für die Jugend
· Études nach den Capricen von Paganini

CD 11 [67’53]
· Three Sonatas for the Young
· Bunte Blätter
· Albumblätter
· Blumenstück

CD 12 [71’45]
· Six Concert Studies on Paganini Caprices
· Four Marches Op.76
· Seven Pieces in the form of Fughettas
· Scherzo in F minor
· Variations on a Theme of Beethoven

CD 13 [61’43]
· Four Fugues Op.72
· Albumblätter Op.124
· Three Romanzen Op.28
· Theme and Variations in E flat
· Canon ‘An Alexis’