Nikolai Karlovich Medtner inhabited turbulent times. He lived through two world wars, political and musical revolutions, artistic neglect, exile and chronic ill-health. Nevertheless, his great friend, compatriot and fellow-exile, Sergei Rachmaninov was to pronounce him “…the greatest composer of our generation…”

Given that the generation in question included Bartok, Busoni, Debussy, Prokofiev, Ravel, Schoenberg, and Scriabin this was undoubtedly high praise indeed. Such was Rachmaninov’s rega...