Die Wahlverwandt-schaften is claimed by the booklet writer to be ‘possibly the best novel’ by Goethe. ‘It refers to the phenomenon that can result when two chemical compounds come into contact. If the affinity is strong enough, elements may detach themselves from either compound, free to combine anew with each other.’ The title translates as ‘Elective Affinities’ or, alternatively, ‘Kindred by Choice’.

Cyprien Katsaris was inspired to assemble a programme with such affinities. Thus Beethoven’s Egmont Overture (heard here in an arrangement by an unknown hand which Katsaris suggests may be by the composer himself) originates in a play by Goethe; Mendelssohn’s song ‘Suleika’ (arranged by Liszt) originates in a poem by one of Goethe’s muses. There’s a Novelette by Schumann followed by one from Poulenc; a Courante by Loeillet followed by Godowsky’s free transcription of the same piece; two dances from the Austro-Hungarian empire – Eduard Schütt’s dazzling paraphrase of Johann Strauss II’s Weiner Blut and Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No 13. And so forth. (The Schütt is one of four premiere recordings on this disc, though the Mazurka by Fontana is not one as claimed.)

For me, Katsaris is one of the greatest living pianists, a phenomenon who straddles the entire literature of his instrument (with a few blind spots). Perhaps it is his astonishing fluency, the unintentional impression he gives of everything coming easily to him; perhaps it is his ability as an improviser, his willingness to embrace popular music and film themes, his penchant for playing some piano concertos (the Emperor, Liszt A major) and symphonies (Mozart No 40, for instance) as solos that lead some to view him with suspicion, attaching labels like ‘superficial’, ‘shallow’ and ‘showy’. Well, let them listen to this varied selection of 19 works and tell me the name of another living pianist who could do the same with such stylish command and such palpable glee in the task he has set himself while evincing in the process such love for the piano.