Ján Cikker (1911–89) was one of the leading Slovak composers of the twentieth century, with no fewer than nine operas to his credit.

Cikker’s piano music is little known even in his native Slovakia: this disc features several first recordings.

The music sits downstream from Szymanowski and Janáček, like them blending folk influences with an echo of French impressionism.

As also with Szymanowski, some of the pieces evoke the composer’s fondness for the Tatra Mountains.

This recording was produced in collaboration with the Music Centre Slovakia in Bratislava.

Jordana Palovičová is assistant professor at the Academy of Music and Drama in Bratislava.