The pianist Ivo Pogorelich has signed a contract with Sony Classical.

After a gap of some 24 years since his last commercial release (he recorded 14 albums for DG between 1981 and 1995), the 60-year-old pianist has returned to the studio. The first recording for his new label, due out this autumn, will be of Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Sonata coupled with two by Beethoven, No 22 in F, Op 54 and No 24 in F sharp, Op 78.

Announcing the signing, Sony Classical’s President, Bogdan Roscic, said that ‘Ivo Pogorelich’s discography is one of the seven wonders of recorded music, and I have been trying to add to it for a long time now. We couldn’t be happier that he has decided to go back to the studio and Sony Classical will be releasing his new work starting later this year.’

The pianist himself added that ‘I am very glad that Sony expressed interest in my current work. Many years ago the founder of the company, Mr Akio Morita, presented me with a gift – a remastered set of the original recordings of Sergei Rachmaninov – the result of an application of the then available technology used by Sony engineers. On my first Sony recording … I play a work by Sergei Rachmaninov … and I am very pleased by this association!’