A pianist, twenty sonatas, and a composer who deserves it

Published by: Werner de Smet, from Klassiek Centraal on 1 June 2026

English pianist and composer enthusiast Xander Benham has launched an ambitious long-term project to record all twenty piano sonatas of the late Ukrainian-Russian composer Nikolai Kapustin, whose music uniquely combines the structure of classical composition with the sound and energy of jazz. Having discovered Kapustin’s music during his studies and championed it throughout his career, Benham believes the composer deserves greater recognition within the classical repertoire. His project begins with the release of Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 39 (“Sonata-Fantasy”), a technically demanding and rhythmically complex work that he spent over two years preparing before recording in 2025. By documenting the complete sonata cycle, Benham aims to fill a significant gap in Kapustin’s discography and bring wider attention to a composer whose innovative music remained largely overlooked despite growing appreciation in recent years.

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