The works of Jean-Paul Liardet are simply unique in their diversity. His musical language is strikingly daring, rich, and of overwhelming expression. Written over the large period of 51 years between 1967 and 2018, the piano sonatas reveal the full range of emotions, events and stylistic influences that shaped the composer's musical world.

The sonata cycle was recorded by pianist Olga Riazantceva-Schwarz in 2022. With her understanding of style and virtuosity, the pianist delivers a brilliant and moving interpretation of the sonatas. The creative exchange process between the performer and the composer made it possible to bring the musical ideas to the listener in the most accurate way. Four of the six sonatas appear in this recording as a premiere recording.

Jean-Paul Liardet was born in Lausanne in 1939. He completed his musical studies at the Geneva Conservatory in the classes of Bernard Reichel, Lionel Rogg, André-François Marescotti and Louis Hiltbrand. Jean-Paul gave his first concerto for piano and orchestra in 1959 in Bern with the Collegium Musicum in Basel. In addition to piano works, his compositions include the Mass, the Requiem premiered in 1981 at Lausanne Cathedral, and the songs commissioned by the International Society of Contemporary Music (SIMC) in 1983.

Olga Riazantceva-Schwarz is a Russian-born pianist and composer living in Germany. In the course of her young career she has already won several prizes at international competitions, such as the 3rd prize at the International Music Competition "Grand Prize Virtuoso London 2016" and the Hanns Eisler Prize at the International Piano Festival in Vienna. She regularly plays with numerous orchestras and in chamber music ensembles at home and abroad. In addition to her performing career, Olga is active as a composer herself. She regularly collaborates with theater and film directors, creating contemporary compositions for various instrumentations.