His recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations (CD 50-2407) was one of Claves most successful albums in recent years. And with the impulse of the first prize that he brilliantly won at the Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition in Salt Lake City (USA) in 2002, Cédric Pescia burst into the ranks of the great pianists.

His second album for Claves is scheduled for release this fall and features another of his preferred composers: Schumann. His recording is dazzling and provides testimony to the intelligence of his artistry, in particular with regard to his revolutionary approach to Schumann’s Album for the Young which he performs not as a series of lighter etudes but as a complete cycle. And his intense study of these 42 pieces also led him to choose a different piano than the one he played to record the other works on this album (Papillons, Davidsbündlertänze and the “Ghost Variations”).

Claves and Schumann’s complete works for piano solo, volume 2. Born from the efforts of Claves Records and the Clara Haskil Competition in Vevey to renew the spirit of their collaboration (which goes back to 1993 and the first prize won by Austrian marvel Till Fellner), the project of recording all of Schumann’s works for piano solo on six double-albums is directed at highlighting the composer’s use of multiple forms through the interpretation of some of the best prizewinners from the competition.

The programs for each of the albums were shaped by focusing on the particular strengths and preferences of each of the pianists. Released in spring 2006, volume 1 with Irish pianist Finghin Collins (the competition winner in 1999) was met with a wave of accolades and earned some of the most eminent awards from the press (Gramophone’s Editor’s Choice Award, 5 Diapasons, 4 Stars from BBC Music Magazine…).

We are certain that volume 2 with pianist Cédric Pescia (chosen for his role as a member of the jury in the competition in 2005) will meet the expectations that this great series has engendered.