American pianist and writer Jeremy Denk will release his debut recording for Nonesuch Records on May 15. The solo disc features selections from Books One and Two of Ligeti’s Piano Études and Beethoven’s Sonata No 32.

In his liner notes for the album, Denk explains his reasons for linking the works: ‘The most significant connection for me is between Beethoven’s vast timeless canvas and Ligeti’s bite-sized bits of infinity. Almost every étude visits the infinite; Ligeti uses it almost as a kind of cadence, a reference point.  From simplicity, he ranges into unimaginable complexity; he wanders to the quietest and loudest extremes; he veers off the top and bottom of the keyboard.  Always the infinite is lurking around, reminding you that it’s not impossible, that it exists. I think of the way, among other things, Beethoven drifts off at the end of the Arietta, the way he indicates ending without ending, implies an infinite space of silence surrounding the work.’

Denk released ‘French Impressions’, an album of Saint-Saëns, Ravel and Franck, with violinist and long-term collaborator Joshua Bell for Sony Classical earlier this year. He also recorded selected Bach partitas for Azica Records in 2011 and a well-received disc of Ives on Think Denk Media in 2010.

For more information, see Think Denk, his popular blog, or www.jeremydenk.net.