Dmitri Borisovich Kabalevsky came behind Prokofiev and Shostakovich and along with Khachaturian in the "Big Four" of Soviet music. Following the releases of Kabalevsky's four symphonies, his complete works for piano and orchestra and the two cello concertos, CPO now presents the composer's music for solo piano. This release includes the three piano sonatas and the two important rondos while a future release will feature the complete preludes. There is also a short set of Three Rondos Op. 30 but as these pieces are nothing more than short and easy transcriptions from Kabalevsky's opera "Colas Breugnon" they are not included here. Few careers are so closely linked to the recording medium as that of the pianist Michael Korstick. Among critics and experts in the piano world the Cologne-born Korstick has long enjoyed renown as one of the leading German pianists. Critics repeatedly emphasize the outstanding balance maintained by him between brilliant virtuosity and musical introspection, so richly informed by his striking personality and by his uncompromising faithfulness to the works he performs.