Following the example of his debut solo release for Challenge Classics, ‘ImproviSatie’ (CC72512), which was based around the music of the French composer Erik Satie, pianist Michael Gees has turned his attention to Robert Schumann. Once again he puts aside a traditional view of his work, and on the album ‘Beyond Schumann’ uses improvisation as a means of interpretation. This hybrid double SACD set features Gees’ versions of the Symphonic Etudes, the set Kreisleriana, and Vogel als Prophet, one of the Waldszenen, opus 82.

In Robert Schumann's day extrapolating around original compositions was the norm, and embellishments were not always written down in detail. As with his previous recording ‘ImproviSatie’, pianist Michael Gees takes the music of a particular composer, here Schumann, and uses improvisation as a means of interpretation.

Michael Gees is an acclaimed pianist, composer and improviser, particularly well-known for his partnership with the critically-acclaimed tenor Christoph Prégardien. Together they were rewarded with the MIDEM Vocal Award 2009, the MIDEM Record of the Year Award 2009, and a Supersonic Award by the Luxembourgian Pizzicato Magazine for Die Schöne Müllerin of Franz Schubert on Challenge Classics.