Josef Hoffman was a pianist of transcendent technique, rhythmic acuity and precise articulation in even the fastest passages. He didn't record much, but these concert recordings from 1936 and 1938 crackle with the palpable tension of a live performance, inspiring him to communicative heights. The uncredited accompanists are reliably said to be John Barbirolli and the New York Philharmonic. Hofmann's playing is suffused with color and inner detail, and the works are as compelling as any recorded since. Bonuses are a brief excerpt from a London performance of the Concerto No. 1 and a hokey radio interview with the pianist. This is Volume One of a Hofmann series that now runs to five volumes on VAI and Marston Records. --Dan Davis
