Julien Quentin
Cellist Kian Soltani's new, highly anticipated album is dedicated entirely to the works of Robert Schumann and was recorded in collaboration with the Camerata Salzburg under the artistic direction of Gregory Ahss. At its heart is Schumann's famous Cello Concerto, which Soltani performs and conducts simultaneously. In addition to orchestrated songs, the album also includes Soltani's own arrangements of songs by Robert and Clara Schumann for cello and piano, accompanied by pianist Julien Quentin. For this recording, Soltani has selected his favorite Schumann songs, which are performed sometimes with string accompaniment and sometimes with piano accompaniment, always with great intensity and expressiveness. The decision to interpret the works without a conductor lends the recording a chamber music-like transparency and fosters a lively dialogue between soloist and ensemble, thereby highlighting the poetic quality of Schumann's music.