András Schiff is a daring and adventurous pianist. He has a wide repertoire, but always remains loyal to the composers most important to him. These are the composers represented in this collection of early recordings which first appeared on the Denon label – J S Bach, Schumann, Haydn and Bartók.

He has returned to each repeatedly throughout his career, fashioning innovative recital programmes around their works, and often recording individual pieces more than once as his interpretations develop. But at this relatively early stage in his career, from the late 1970s onwards, Schiff already had a mature and distinctive voice, and his musical personality shines through in each of these recordings.

Typically of Denon, the sound recordings presented here are of demonstration quality.

"His playing is truthful and sympathetic……….Schiff captures Schumann’s mercurial mood changes without drawing attention to an interpreter at work." - Gramophone (Schumann)

"Schiff makes all these sonatas sound even more attractive than you remembered them being'. 'Schiff is as polished as you could wish in the scintillating rondos……. but I cannot recall anyone else with the delicacy of touch and understanding that he brings to the other movements." - Gramophone (Haydn)

"Schiff plays with an extraordinary refinement and delicacy; he is resourceful and highly imaginative in his use of tone colour; his phrasing and articulation are a constant source of pleasure. Superb in every way and beautifully recorded too." - Penguin Guide (Haydn)

"This record had me completely gripped." - Gramophone (J S Bach)