British pianist Ashley Wass has signed a three-disc partnership with Orchid Classics. The first album, released on October 1, features Liszt’s transcription of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, performed on the Girikowsky fortepiano at Restoration House, Rochester.

This will be followed by recital disc ‘Back to Bach’ in 2013, exploring works that have been closely associated with Wass throughout his performing career. The disc will include transcriptions of Bach’s Chorale Preludes, Busoni’s Fantasia nach JS Bach, Sonatas by Berg and Barber, and Bagatelles by Beethoven.

'I'm genuinely delighted to be joining forces with Orchid Classics and I'm hugely flattered that they have chosen to place their faith in me,’ said Wass. ‘I can't think of any other young record label with such a varied, innovative and imaginative catalogue of recordings: it's an approach I admire greatly and I can't wait to add my own quirky projects into the mix. This is the first time in my career that a record label has been brave (or crazy) enough to give me completely free choice over the repertoire I'm recording and I'm looking forward to creating programmes that will hopefully challenge and excite the record-buying public.’

Watch Ashley Wass play the Girikowsky fortepiano at Restoration House below: