Karl Miller writes: >One of my favorite recordings of Kreisleriana is on our label Pierian ... >James Mathis in Concert >Pierian 0011/12. I've been debating whether to acquire the Mathis 2-cd set, for I had not heard of him until I saw the listing for the set on the Arkiv website. With Karl's favorable pitch, I will get the set which also has the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.1 and 1st Piano Sonata among other works. Concerning the Pierian label, I picked up on Karl's advice the disc of Granados playing his own music. It's a relevatory set of performances, and Karl has my gratitude for steering me in its direction. The sound is so up-to-date that I felt as if Granados was at my piano; he plays much better than I do. My wife Ellen Jane heard the music also and commented that I never sounded so good. She sure was right about that - never did and never will. My piano playing has the distinct sound of fingers glued together. I am also interested in the Pierian 3-cd set of Prokofiev's Piano Sonatas performed by Barbara Nissman. Although it comes with a high price tag, the set is still enticing. Perhaps Karl might offer a few comments about her interpretations and the recorded sound. At any rate, Pierian is a label that piano enthusiasts should investigate. As an aside, I'm just wondering if anyone on the list is as impressed as I am with the first movement of Prokofiev's 2nd Piano concerto where the brass enter the picture toward the end of the movement. It's such a tremendous display of strength and energy that it always takes my breath away. Don Satz [log in to unmask]