I was surprised to find a well-filled CD devoted to Schumann’s “Complete Works for Violin and Orchestra”. The two known compositions, the Fantasy and the D minor Concerto, are joined by an authentic transcription of the Cello Concerto (a solo violin part with corrections by the composer has been preserved) and three arrangements from the Op 85 piano duet pieces, one by Joseph Joachim, for whom the Fantasy and Violin Concerto were written, the other two by Ernst Rudorff, a pupil of Clara Schumann and friend and colleague of Joachim.

All three arrangements are accomplished and effective; “At the Fountain” sounds especially fresh and original in this guise. Op 129, too, becomes a surprisingly convincing violin concerto, though one needs to forget the cello and the memorable use Schumann makes of its lower notes.

Lena Neudauer plays all the music stylishly; her tone is notably smooth and expressive, and she shapes Schumann’s melodic lines most sensitively. The Fantasy is especially successful. The passages of dramatic recitative as well as the bright colours of the C major music are enhanced by the clear, spacious recording and fine orchestral wind playing – did Schumann, I wonder, have a colourful, romantic vision of knights in armour? I could do with more dash and temperament in Op 129’s finale, and the outer movements of the D minor Concerto tend to sound rather laboured by comparison with Joshua Bell’s splendid 1994 recording (Decca, 5/96^R). The finale in particular just seems too slow.However, the performances always sound well, and Schumann’s characteristic songfulness is realised in heartfelt fashion.