A live recording of one of pianist Sergio Fiorentino’s last concerts, in Taiwan, May 1998. The programme includes works by JS Bach, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninov, Scriabin and Chopin.

Italian pianist Sergio Fiorentino (1927-1998) was an incomparable pianist and musician, who had a discontinuous career but who should be ranked as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. He was, above all, a soulful musician and could return profound interpretations of Bach, Schubert, Franck or of the last of Beethoven’s sonatas. He was a balanced pianist, faithful to the score, but, at the same time, still tied to certain freedom of expression, typical of the pianists of the late 19th century but always with great taste, elegance, musicality and respect of the musical style.

Fiorentino, for his perfect technique, clear sonority, vast musical culture and broad repertoire (from Bach to Stravinsky, including also the main compositions for orchestra and chamber music) represents in many aspects the archetype of the “perfect pianist”.