Schulhoff : Œuvres pour piano, Vol. 1. Weichert.

Piano International (Jul, 2012)
It is good to see renewed interest in Prague-born composer Erwin Schulhoff. After a life linked to Debussy and Reger (with whom he studied), Schulhoff was to end his days in the Wülzburg concentration camp in 1942.

Caroline Weichert is a magnificent pianist, and to hear Schulhoff played at this level is revelatory. The disc opens with the 1922 Partita, in which Schulhoff adds jazz titles for the individual movements. Here, one finds shadows of Stravinsky and Poulencian neo- classicism. The fifth movement, Boston, is the most emotionally exploratory. Weichert honours the humour throughout but still manages to project the piece’s importance.

The brief Fox-Song (a transcription) evokes late night jazz …