The centrepiece of this collection of Wilhelm Kempff's concerto recordings of the 1950s is the earlier of his two Beethoven concerto cycles with the Berlin Philharmonic under Paul van Kempen.

His playing is not just focused, but delightfully carefree. Consistently, in his highly individual way, he turns phrases and points ornamentation with a unique sparkle and sense of fun, opting to use his own cadenzas. If Kempff's mastery in Beethoven is well-recognised, the other concerto recordings here - five of them originally made for Decca - are far rarer.

The two Mozart concertos, K271 in E flat and K450 in B flat, are infectiously brilliant, and Kempff is just as compelling in the high romantic works, with the two Liszt concertos and the Schumann played with a transparency and lyrical warmth rarely matched.