Album: Janacek / Haas/ Martinu / Suk, Intimate Studies / Valesová (Avie)

Lada Valesová's absorbing and intelligent recital takes its title from the sketches, fragments and favourite miniatures that Janacek assembled for his muse Kamila Stossova and traces the evolution of Czech piano music over three remarkable decades.

Dvorak's son-in-law Josef Suk provides the strongest link to the 19th century in "Spring" (1902), while his pupil, Martinu, strides into the Jazz Age with "Film en Miniature" (1925). Pavel Haas's glittering "Suite for Piano" (1935) and "Allegro moderato" (1938) show how much talent was lost in Terezin and Auschwitz.