Album: Schumann/Dvorák, Piemontesi/ Belohlávek/BBC SO (Naive)

Francesco Piemontesi brings together two oddities: Schumann's Piano Concerto is a dreamlike dialogue between soloist and orchestra, while Dvorák's rather dull work has slid into obscurity.

Piemontesi's crisp articulation is matched in the characterful playing of the BBC SO's clarinet, flute and oboe principals, the cadenza of the Schumann exquisite. Belohlávek's balancing of orchestra and soloist is near-ideal, though the Dvorák remains a puzzle.