Doyen’s Chopin, luminous but never underweight, is extremely enjoyable, and his less portentous approach to Liszt also serves as a corrective to the overly earnest recordings and performances that later became fashionable. His sparkle in Saint-Saëns’s fluffy Valse-caprice and in Chabrier’s Bourrée fantasque are unique. Above all, try this set for the Debussy and Ravel recordings, which demonstrate why Doyen’s reputation in France was as high as it was, especially among composers and fellow musicians

I hadn't dreamed that he had been the first ever to record Gaspard...Unsurprisingly the sound is monochrome by modern standards, but that may be as much to do with the instrument used; and once you're attuned to Doyen's flamboyant but super-agile manner, you may find this more satisfying than many a more exhibitionist modern account.

The set contains all four of Chopin’s Ballades (1941, in superb transfers that brilliantly convey nuance of tone). Robert Cowlin and Seth Winner, responsible for mastering and transfers, have produced an historical release of the very first order.

proves as illuminating stylistically as it is convincing artistically.