Klaviermusik Des 20. Jahrhunderts, Piano Music Of The 20th Century, Musique Pour Piano Du XXe Siècle, Musica Per Pianoforte Del XX Secolo

Released in 1988 by Deutsche Grammophon, this collection serves as a definitive showcase of Maurizio Pollini’s mastery of the avant-garde and modernist piano repertoire. The album was produced during a period when Pollini was internationally recognized as the preeminent interpreter of 20th-century compositions, bridging the gap between academic complexity and expressive performance. By featuring works from the Second Viennese School alongside Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and the post-war avant-garde, the record acts as a curated survey of the century's structural evolutions in piano writing.

The design of this release adheres to Deutsche Grammophon’s classic aesthetic, emphasizing the austerity and intellectual rigor of the music contained within. The project was conceived to document Pollini’s long-standing relationship with the label, capturing the precise, crystalline technical approach he applied to pieces by composers like Boulez and Nono. Upon its reception, the compilation was widely praised by critics for its pedagogical value and for Pollini’s ability to bring clarity and structural cohesion to disparate and often challenging soundscapes.