Ignaz Moscheles (1794-1870) was born in Prague. In 1808 he settled in Vienna where he was a pupil of Albrechtsberger and Salieri - thanks to whose commendations he became adjunct Kapellmeister to the Court Theatre from 1811 to 1813. Beethoven was so impressed by him that he entrusted him with the piano transcription of Fidelio. The approval of Beethoven and the establishment of a friendship between them that would continue over time were pivotal in those years to launching the young musician into the stream of the international concert world. Moscheles was a key figure in the transition period between the generation rooted in classicism (Hummel, Field, Cramer, Kalkbrenner, etc.) and the early romantics. His musical language may be best compared to that of Mendelssohn, his pupil and friend.

The Op.70 Etudes form an important source for piano teaching and are an excellent introduction to the Etudes by Chopin and Liszt; these 24 studies contain an abundance of brilliant pianism, attractive touches of romanticism and quite some pianistic innovations that were to undergo further development in future years by Schumann, Chopin and Liszt.

The winner of several piano competitions in his native Italy, Michele Bolla specializes in music of the Classical and early-Romantic period, working on both historical and modern instruments. On this recording he plays a fortepiano built by McNulty after Conrad Graf 1819, and a fortepiano Erard 1844. His previous recording of Moscheles (The Complete Piano Sonatas PCL10188)) met with great critical acclaim in the international press.