Book excerpt: Michael Davidson - author of the highly acclaimed Mozart and the Pianist - casts new light on some of the most masterly sonatas written for the piano and on the uniqueness of these great compositions and their composers. Excepting the considerable literature on Beethoven, few studies are available which explore the interpretation of this much played repertoire. This study is not only a detailed look at fourteen sonatas; one can also learn more about other works by these composers and about aspects of 'style' - that magical quality which differentiates Haydn from Mozart, Beethoven from Schubert, Liszt from Brahms.