SCRIABIN: The Complete Etudes for Piano

Etude Op. 2, No. 1; Twelve Etudes, Op. 8; Eight Etudes, Op. 42; Etude Op. 49, No. 1; Etude Op. 56, No. 4; Three Etudes, Op. 65

Garrick Ohlsson (piano


• Scriabin wrote his first Etude at age 15 (Op. 2, No. 1) and continued using this form up until his death. A few years after his first effort (in 1894), Scriabin composed the heroic set of Op. 8 Etudes, entering into his first maturity. Almost 10 years later, Scriabin composed his next set, the Op. 42 Etudes, works which contain something of the mystic theosophy he was so involved with at that point.

• The late Etudes are all characterized by an even freer fantasy with sparer gestures and an increasingly systematic use of 'mystic' harmonies. Pianist Garrick Ohlsson is widely regarded as a leader among the American pianists of his generation