| Alexander Scriabin was a Russian composer whose music bridged the Romantic era and the twentieth century. Although he lived only into his forties, he managed to write ten sonatas for piano, a piano concerto, three symphonies, two orchestral poems, and large number of short piano solo pieces. As he matured musically, he became more and more philosophical. Mysticism became evident his music beginning mainly with the 1907 Poem of Ecstasy and 5th sonata. He was related to Rachmaninov. He also studied under the same teacher for quite some time. In his earliest years as a composer, he adored the work of Chopin. His early and middle-period work is rich with colorful romanticism. His mature music neared atonality. Five sets of his complete sonatas are reviewed here, along with several other recordings. The below links offer some thoughts on the sonatas, as well as some thoughts on the performances of individual pianists. |