Leopold Koželuch, an eminent contemporary of Mozart and at the time considered by many to be the superior composer, was one of the first champions of the fortepiano, and his compositions for the instrument enshrined the highest qualities of Viennese style. Composed over nearly four decades his sonatas show progressive development, embracing lyrical melodies, delightful harmonic shifts, and foretastes of Romantic drama. They can be judged worthy to stand alongside those of Haydn, Dussek, Clementi and Mozart, and as a precursor to those of Beethoven.

This recording was made on a period instrument: Fortepiano by Thomas and Barbara Wolf (USA), after Anton Walter (c. 1795)