IGNAZ MOSCHELES (1794-1870): Fantasias in C, in E Flat, Op. 14 & in D, Op. 57, Variations on a Russian Theme, Op. 23, Sonatas No. 1 in G, Op. 4 & No. 2 in D, Op. 22.

Description: Moscheles wrote five piano sonatas, none of which are currently available besides these two. Both date from 1815, are relatively short and in three movements and show combination of learned style (Albrechtsberger had been his teacher) and the glittering salon moves of the Biedermeier period. Even more interesting are the three Fantasias which move from inchoate experimentation in the seven minute work without opus number through a 17-minute piece still the work of a teenager to the later D major piece whose ten minute span shows mature originality of form and content. Loredana Brigandi (piano).