Alfred Brendel’s least known recordings are the four LPs he made for the US label SPA Records in the early 1950s. Until now, none has been given a full commercial release in the digital era but amongst them is a recording which is surely one of the most important in Brendel’s discography – that of Busoni’s Fantasia contrappuntistica. We are delighted to reissue it here with Mr Brendel’s blessing, along with his first solo LP, the complete recording of Liszt’s Weihnachtsbaum. Both these works were recording premieres at the time and the pianist was not to return to them again in the studio, so this marks an important addition to his available discography.

The booklet contains a note by the pianist himself, written specially for this release, with his reflections on Busoni and the Fantasia contrappunctistica.

Recorded in Vienna, 1952 (Liszt) & 1953