Sonatas Op.1

Andrea Luchesi (1741-1801), like many of his compatriots, left his homeland Italy to find his luck elsewhere in Europe. A virtuoso keyboard player he undertook extensive concert tours, before settling at the court of Bonn, where he became Maestro di Cappella and sought-after teacher. One of his most famous pupils was...the young Ludwig van Beethoven. Luchesi's Sonatas Op. 1 were written for keyboard with violin accompaniment, which in the present recording is omitted, since it plays a marginal role. The sonatas are written in the Viennese Classicist style, witty, tuneful and brilliantly written for the keyboard, displaying uncommon virtuosity. One can clearly see the influence these works must have had on the young Ludwig.

Italian pianist Roberto Plano was First Prize Winner of the Cleveland Piano Competition and the top winner in the Cliburn Competition of 2005. He settled in the USA, where he is Professor at Boston University and is expanding his pianistic career. The NY Times wrote about him: "he showed artistic maturity beyond his years..there was a wonderful clarity and control of inner voices in his performance..".