Bach Variations, Op.81 (2000)

In certain circles Max Reger is still regarded as a "difficult" composer for the listener as well as for the performer. He was himself a superb pianist and his style of writing for the piano owes much to Liszt on one hand and Brahms on the other. This album offers his two greatest variation works for the piano, compositions that have been rarely recorded because of their complexity and difficulty. Pianist Kees Schul, well-known as a highly regarded chamber music musician and accompanist to singers, is a pupil of Jan Wijn and of Aloys Kontarsky in Cologne and studied these works with the latter who is an internationally recognised Reger expert. Listening to Kees Schul's magnificent performances of these fascinating works, one wonders why Reger is being regarded as "difficult" for this is a thoroughly enjoyable and gratifying musical experience. (...)