It is not without reason that the most recent CD of French pianist JeanClaude Henriot is dedicated entirely to Schumann’s music. The pieces presented on the CD vary in terms of style, form and atmosphere. Kreisleriana, Op. 16, composed on the basis of contrasts and written under the influence of meetings with Chopin, refers to the literary output of E.T.A. Hoffmann and constitutes an opposite to both dark, ordered according to a completely different principle Nachtstücke, Op. 23 ( “While

composing, I kept seeing funeral processions, coffins, unhappy, despairing people. I was often so overcome that tears came forth...” Robert Schumann) and Geistervariationen from the last year of composing, which in turn are characterised with simplicity, calm and reflectiveness.