A pianist of astonishing technical prowess and one of the first to enjoy an international
career, Jan Ladislav Dussek (1760–1812) was also a highly proficient composer who wrote
extensively for his own instrument. This fantastic CD is dedicated to a small selection of
his piano works, many of whose features anticipate early Romanticism.

Showcasing compositions aimed at the amateur market as well as those intended for
professional performance, the release begins with one of the composer’s most ambitious
creations: his Sonata No.24 in F sharp minor Op.61. Cast in two movements – the first of
which features a slow introduction more intensely chromatic than Mozart’s Fantasia in
C minor – this expressive work precedes the highly virtuosic Sonata No.25 in D Op.69 No.3.
It’s a striking contrast to the rest of the set, where sophistication is achieved in a much
more simple manner: as well as detailing the charming 1799 Rondo ‘Les Adieux’, whose
theme derives from Dibdin’s 1768 opera Lionell and Clarissa, the compilation also includes
Chantons l’hymen – part of a short set of keyboard pieces dating from 1788.

History has not looked favourably on Dussek, whose reputation declined shortly after his
death. However, as this recording demonstrates, he was a composer of great originality
and expression. Palazzolo’s energetic and committed performances make a splendid case
for this under-appreciated music.