By John Evans
Ham Chan rises to the challenge of recording some of Schumann’s most demanding works for solo piano across two albums
Ham Chan (piano)
Masks under the Mask: Selected pieces by Florestan and Eusebius
Centaur (CRC 4137/4138, 2 CDs)
The origin of Ham Chan’s new album lies in a recital series the pianist once gave on the theme of characters in piano music, of whom Schumann offers an abundance here, most notably in Papillons, Davidsbündlertänze and Kreisleriana.
Chan, who was born in Hong Kong and began playing the piano when he was 11, didn’t receive formal lessons until he was 18, a fact that might explain the sense of wide-eyed wonder that typifies his playing. These are no spoon-fed interpretations but individual and full of curiosity. Never showy but profoundly musical and always respectful, his performances are a delight.
Recording some of Schumann’s most demanding works for solo piano across two albums, a total of almost 150 minutes of music, is a major undertaking and which Ham Chan rises to magnificently. Unfortunately, not so his piano which, at times and especially in Drei Fantasiestücke, sounds out of tune, an unfortunate lapse in an otherwise meticulously crafted recording.
John Evans