Here, on the face of it, is an enticing quartet of works that have in common Russian composers and/or Russian themes. The Irish-born Field, who made his home in St Petersburg from 1802, ‘kindled Russia’s passion for the piano’. His Variations, published in 1818, are based on ‘In the garden’ which, booklet writer Marina Frolova-Walker affirms, is a ‘well-known Russian folk tune’. These seamless six minutes hovering between Mozart and Chopin are a delight.

Next on the CD comes the Glazunov with a theme that is deemed to be Finnish, albeit Finland being part of the Russian Empire at the time of composition. It is a work I have never warmed to personally. The shortest variation lasts no longer than 25 seconds; No 15, the penultimate and longest (Andante tranquillo), is the most attractive. The Tchaikovsky is a set of six variations from 1873. Here I prefer Peter Donohoe’s consistently brisker tempos (Signum, 2/20), by coincidence recorded at Snape Maltings, Suffolk, just a few miles down the road from Potton Hall, where Piers Lane and his team set up camp.

The meatiest and finest work here – also the best played – is the Rachmaninov, which Lane executes with transparently more freedom and pure relish. There is much to admire here, from the judicious pacing and depth of tone to the way he plays the heartbreaking Var 16 (one of the composer’s loveliest inspirations) and the exultant conclusion. For once, we get the presto final-page ending, which is surely what the work deserves, rather than the subdued alternative.

I have always been a great admirer of Piers Lane but while the playing is, of course, never less than immaculate and assured, until he reaches the Chopin Variations there is too much studio correctness and dutiful attention, and too little that feels truly inspired. During the generous length of the programme there are no big sustained, sweeping movements but a succession of 46 short stops and starts (all, Deo gratias, given separate tracks by Hyperion). The programme is, in short, good on paper but less satisfactory as an album.