In 2012, I composed a set of variations (originally for orchestra and subsequently arranged for two pianos in 2013 ) based on one of Wagner's most inspired and haunting melodies, the 'alte Hirtenweise' [old shepherd's song], an extended cor anglais solo at the start of Act III of Tristan and Isolde. This seemingly simple, yet deceptively complex melody was my starting point for an expansive fantasy in which I explore the potential of the melodic elements for variational development. The individual motifs are transformed and reconstructed in eight extended movements making frequent use of polyphony and are repeatedly interrupted by the sounding of the original theme. The work concludes with a languid coda at a great distance from the themes of salvation and Liebestod. Stefan Heucke / 2 Pianos 4 Mains

The New Robert Schumann Edition (RSA) is intended as a historico-critical edition of the collected works. They will be carefully studied and prepared according to present-day musicological and editorial techniques and presented in their entirety. Drafts, sketches and fragments, in short, everything that has come down to us as being authentically by Schumann and which, in most cases, has been deliberately preserved by him, will be brought together, evaluated as to its importance and documented in some form or other in the edition of the complete works.It is the aim of the edition to reproduce authentic texts which - having corrected scribal, copying and printing errors and eradicated later additions and other textual corruptions - will approach as closely as is possible the intention of the originals.The critical edition will form the basis of accurate performance material for Robert Schumann's work. / 2 Pianos 4 Mains