The Works

The Works opens this week with pianist Arcadi Volodos’ beautiful performance of the opening movement from Schumann’s 1838 suite Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood). “Von fremden Ländern und Menschen” (“Of Foreign Lands and Peoples”) is a kind of “once upon a time” introduction to the suite, which goes on to paint miniature portraits of childhood, from the playful energy of “Hasche-Mann” (“Blind Man’s Buff”) to the otherworldly calm of “Kind im Einschlummern” (“Child Falling Asleep”). The track is taken from Volodos’ upcoming recording of the whole suite, alongside Schubert’s Piano Sonata No. 17, D. 850. The Works features the best of the very latest classical releases. We regularly update this playlist, so if you find a piece of music or a performance you particularly love, don’t forget to add it to your library.