John Ogdon’s legendary 1979 Indiana University recital was originally announced for release in 1998 on two LPs (Recherché 1004). They never saw the light of day. Then they appeared briefly on the obscure Performer’s Domain label (PD1001). After this lengthy troglodytic existence, here is the full recital (minus a sonata for solo flute). The analytical notes on the music are by Ogdon’s widow, Brenda Lucas, providing a useful route map though without concessions to non-musicians. For those new to Ogdon’s music it would have been helpful of Enharmonic to have provided different track identities for the many multi-sectional works. Applause has been edited out (sometimes all too abruptly) except for the final number, a manic free transcription of Varlaam’s Song from Boris Godunov. Piano sound quality is remarkably good.

As for the music, I cannot pretend to have enjoyed or understood most of it after a couple of hearings. It is not Ogdon’s dissonant, harmonically and rhythmically complex style that caused me problems – in fact, there are often easily discernible patterns and motifs to latch on to – so much as the fact that the music is so relentlessly, thunderously, unforgivingly aggressive and frantic. Triple sforzandos and con fuoco for 76 minutes make for a challenging listen but it makes one sit in astonishment at Ogdon’s almost unbelievable dexterity, power and stamina. Only the Dance Suite and the Theme and Variations (from 1968 and dedicated to Ashkenazy) as played by the composer are available on other labels in studio performances. Ogdon completists will want to grab this one before it disappears again.