The Swiss composer Émile Jaques-Dalcroze (1865–1950) is best remembered for his development of Eurhythmics, which teaches the appreciation of music through movement. But Jaques-Dalcroze, who studied with Delibes and Fauré in Paris and with Bruckner and Fuchs in Vienna, was a considerable composer in his own right, with operas, cantatas and orchestral works among his substantial output.

The piano works on this new album, all written in the 1890s and receiving their first recording here, are generally lighter in style, showing the influence of Schumann and the salons of Paris. This is the first of a projected three volumes presenting the attractive piano music of this neglected composer. The project is a joint undertaking between Toccata Classics, the Association des Amis Jaques-Dalcroze, the Fondation de famille Jaques-Dalcroze and two other Swiss bodies.

Adalberto Maria Riva is the winner of several national and international prizes. He has also given recitals in Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, Russia and Spain, and has now toured North America six times. This is his third recording for Toccata Classics. The first featured music by Adolfo Fumagalli (TOCC 0316), of which Stephen Pritchard wrote in The Observer: ‘This disc is a perfect example of [Toccata Classics’] mission to promote neglected music. […. Adalberto Maria Riva] makes a convincing advocate here, particularly in an extraordinary grande fantaisie for left hand based on Meyerbeer’s Robert le diable’. His most recent Toccata Classics release was the first in a series dedicated to the piano sonatas of Beethoven’s contemporary, Joseph Woelfl (TOCC0383).