Composed between 1807 and 1809, the four sonatas in this volume of Leopold Koželuch’s complete cycle represent his return to the genre after a period of fourteen years. Whilst aware of the influence of the resonant new English piano, the Bohemian composer explored the special effects of the Viennese instrument. The Turkish sounds in the finale of Sonata No. 41 illustrate the timbres available whilst the romantic quality of his slow introductions, not least the Largo of Sonata No. 40, reveal his command of colour and texture.

This recording was made on a period instrument: Original grand fortepiano by Johann Fritz, c. 1815