Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941) was the most famous classical pianist of the early 20th century. (Another great pianist, Moriz Rosenthal, mockingly remarked: “He plays well… but he’s no Paderewski.”) He became Prime Minister of Poland in 1919, following his successful lobbying to have Poland granted independence after the war. He toured Australia in 1904, but mostly to America where eventually he settled and was one of the first landowners to establish a vineyard in California.

A charismatic figure, Paderewski was in great demand in the recording studio. Between 1914 and 1931 he made many records for the Victor Company, all reproduced in this set, including one newly discovered matrix. There are no concertos or sonatas, but his repertoire is remarkably mainstream: Chopin, Schubert, Liszt and Debussy. (This is in marked contrast to records made by contemporary opera singers, who seemed wedded to third-rate material.) He included his own music in recitals, especially his popular Minuet in G. We get four takes of it here (from 1917, 1923 and 1927), the first the most ingratiating. The biggest surprise comes from the earliest session: Couperin’s Pièces de Clavecin, Book 5, No 8 and Book 14, No 2. Tempos...