Out of Tune Susan Merdinger plays Schumann - heard by ANDREW SCHARTMANN 'Her interpretation of "Reconnaissance" is especially beautiful.'

Susan Merdinger's live performances of Schumann's Carnaval, Op 9, have created quite a buzz over the past few years, receiving unanimous praise throughout the world. In face of these reviews, however, her recent Schumann disc is underwhelming. Indeed there are moments of brilliance throughout, but the uneven tempi, heavy-handed playing, and out-of-tune piano make for difficult listening at times.

This is not to say that the character-rich Carnaval should be played with dogged metronomic consistency...

ROBERT SCHUMANN

PIANO MUSIC