With Schubert Treasures, Rudolf Buchbinder turns to a repertoire that has been with him since childhood: Franz Schubert’s piano dances. One of the leading pianists of our time (“a pianist of great authority and stylistic integrity” – Gramophone), he approaches these works with the assurance of a lifetime in music. Marking his 80th birthday, Buchbinder presents all of the dance cycles published during the composer’s lifetime, drawing attention to a repertoire that is often overlooked. Rooted in the social life of early 19th-century Vienna, these Waltzes, Ländler and Ecossaises reflect a culture of entertainment while reaching beyond it. Beneath their light surface lies a vein of introspection and melancholy. Buchbinder keeps this balance in view, allowing both simplicity and subtlety to emerge. “Schubert’s dances – like his songs – are miniature worlds with a gigantic heart,” he says.