Fort of the piano

Sonatas, Preludios, Fantasie on Au clair de la Lune. Clementi. Soloist Andreas Staier.

Warner Classics.

Elatus CD 2564 60676-2.

EVEN today students of the piano are cognisant of the works of Muzio Clementi.

A virtuoso of his time - he was born in Rome, in 1752 - he started playing at the age of seven and studied the works of CPE Bach closely, whose style influenced him greatly.

As a 14 year-old Clementi was sponsored by the wealthy Sir Peter Beckford, who brought him the family estate in Dorset.

Although he didn't do much composing there he had a good musical and academic education.

He gave his first public performance in 1770.

He soon gained fame as a concert pianist and also performed on the harpsicord and conducted from the keyboard. He continued to compose and play with amazing dexterity.

Clementi was a sought-after piano teacher and in his later life after a series of personal ups and downs, he became a publisher and piano manufacturer.

He spent much of his time in London and was still a prolific composer of piano music.

His country home was in Evesham, where he died in 1832. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.

This CD features some of the best-known of his works, which are played admirably by Andreas Staier, the German performer who is renowned for his work with the harpsicord and fortepiano.