Chopin / Liszt: Piano Sonatas

Ronald Smith turned to Nimbus at a time of upheaval in the industry. He visited the Nimbus studio, a peaceful space in the ballroom of the Victorian manor house at Wyastone Leys outside Monmouth, a total of six times. During his first visits in February and August 1980, he focused on the very core repertoire: Chopin's Études Op. 10 and Op. 25, his Sonata Op. 58, and the Liszt Sonata. The 1980 recordings were made analog on tape machines, which is a rarity for Nimbus releases. Smith’s Chopin Études were released on LP the following year. The LP cover even announced the catalog number for the upcoming Chopin/Liszt Sonata combination. The master tape was approved and ready for release. However, the 'digital revolution' of the new CD turned everything upside down: the recording industry, the media, and fans demanded digital recordings of standard works. Record labels rushed to meet the demand (Nimbus was no exception), and unreleased analog masters were forgotten. But now, at last, the time has come: Ronald Smith's first Nimbus recordings are being released for the first time, 45 years after they were made.