Unpacking the unusual, unfamiliar and unknown. French piano rarities.

Raymond Bisha introduces a new release from Dutch pianist Ralph van Raat of French piano rarities by Boulez, Debussy, Messiaen and Ravel: “I heard Ralph play this same repertoire at a concert in Carnegie Hall a couple of years ago, and it was amazing. Ralph says his aim is to convince people of the ‘immense beauty and diversity of contemporary music’. Both on this album, and when you hear him live, the music simply springs to life.” The programme includes Boulez’s hitherto unknown student work, Prélude, Toccata et Scherzo. Exclusive permission to play and record the piece for Naxos was granted by the heirs of Pierre Boulez and the Sacher Foundation in Basel.