The works on this album document the development of Bartok's aesthetics from the

nationalistic late romantic style of the symphonic poem "Kossuth" and the overtly romantic

Four Piano Pieces to the folk-infused Sonatina and the ebullient Piano Sonata (there are two

surviving early sonatas) composed in 1926, and which is in his mature style. It exploits the

instruments percussive qualities, and is relentless in it's gladiatorial, muscular energy.

Sonya Bach studied with Lazar Bermann and Alicia de Larrocha and has recorded Bach

concertos, Chopin Etudes, Mussorgsky and Rachmaninov for Rubicon. This is her fifth album for

the label.