The young Chopin, a child prodigy if ever there was one, soon found his surroundings in his native Warsaw too narrow, and visited the cultural capital Vienna during the years 1829-1831. Here he met the local piano manufacturer Conrad Graf and was seduced by his instruments, with their light action and delicate, pliant sound. His triumphal concerts in Vienna were played on Graf’s pianos, and the young Frrederic was presented with one as a gift by Graf himself.

This disc presents works of Chopin written in his Vienna period, and here they are played on exactly such an instrument, as is still preserved in the Italian Palazzo Contucci in Montepulciano.

The extensive booklet supplies historical background, pictures, illustrations and photos.

Costantino Mastroprimiano has already recorded extensively for Brilliant Classics, including the complete keyboard music of Clementi, which was highly praised by international critics.