This year, once again, we invited a series of young talented pianists to perform their debut at the Ruhr Piano Festival. Two of them, Elena Fischer-Dieskau and Giorgi Gigashvili, are featured on the first album of the current Vol. 41 boxed set, and they both centered their recital programs around the great Romantic composer Robert Schumann. Our first album thus consists of “pure Schumann.” I was particularly thrilled that this year we were able to ensure the world premiere performance of the great York Höller’s Double Concerto for Cello, Piano and Orchestra, a work commissioned by the Ruhr Piano Festival. Pianist Martin Helmchen and cellist Marie-Elisabeth Hecker set out with the Double Concerto on a highly successful maiden voyage at the Stadthalle Mühlheim with the Cologne Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Christoph Poppen.

That major musical event was supplemented two days later with a portrait recital by Hanni Liang, featuring piano works by York Höller from three decades of his oeuvre. Thus, our second album offers you a fascinating overview of the output of this particularly appealing composer. As always, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all participating artists for having agreed to participate in. (Excerpt from the Forword of the Booklet by Franz Xaver Ohnesorg)