Scriabinâs Etudes span the whole of his career, and are a good illustration of his transformation from Chopin-worshipping romantic to one of the early 20th centuryâs most forward-looking composers.
The earliest work here dates from 1887, when Scriabin was 15. The Twelve Etudes Op. 8 are more mature, but remain clearly in the tradition of Chopin and Liszt.
With the Op. 42 Etudes, from the extraordinary productive year of 1903, we enter a completely different world; this is the time when Scriabin embarks on his most radical advancements.
The later sets continue the evolution of his highly individual style, moving ever closer to complete atonality, and reflecting the composerâs complex mystical world-view.
