Scriabin Alexander

Petr Laul plays the complete piano works of Scriabin

In this year 2022, we celebrate the hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Alexander Scriabin. Anniversary whose celebrations began in 2021, since Scriabin has the privilege of being born in 1871 or 1872 according to the Julian or Georgian calendars.

This end of 2021, Petr Laul has set himself the incredible challenge of recording the entire work for solo piano (works with opus numbers). This represents 65 opuses and around 200 pieces.

Pianists Corner is happy to echo this exciting pianistic adventure.

The entire Petr Laul Playlist is accessible on the Pianists Corner app (Just search for “Petr Laul”).

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Shortcuts to the text :

• 1886-1903
• 1903-1910
• 1911-1915

It is customary to present Scriabin’s works according to 3 periods:

• The first period which goes until 1903 where the influence of Chopin, Liszt or Wagner is very sensitive.
• The second period from 1903 to 1910, transitional period where symbolism becomes more and more present.
• The third period from 1911 to his death (1915), where he evolved towards a modernist movement.

First period (1886-1903) :

Opus 1 is a waltz. How not to see a tribute to Chopin.

• Valse Opus 1 in F minor (1886)

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Opus 2 consists of a study, a prelude and an impromptu

• Trois Morceaux Opus 2 (1886-1889) (each piece can also be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3)

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First set of mazurkas

• Dix Mazurkas Opus 3 (1888-1890) (each piece can also be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

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From the 1st movement of the first sonata

• Allegro appassionato Opus 4 (1887-1893)

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First set of nocturnes

• Deux Nocturnes Opus 5 (1890) (each piece can also be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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The first sonata is still strongly marked by the influence of Chopin

• Sonate No. 1 Opus 6 in F minor (1892-1893) (each movement can also be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4)

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• Deux Impromptus à la Mazur Opus 7 (1891) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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First set of etudes

• Douze Etudes Opus 8 (1894-1895) (each etude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

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After an injury to his right hand which paralyzes him, Scriabin reinforces his work with the left hand which results in the writing of the prelude and the nocturne of opus 9

• Prélude et Nocturne pour la main gauche Opus 9 (1894-1895) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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• Deux Impromptus Opus 10 (1894) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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New tribute to Chopin the 24 preludes of opus 11

• Vingt-quatre Préludes Opus 11 (1888-1896) (each prelude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)

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• Deux Impromptus Opus 12 (1895) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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• Six Préludes Opus 13 (1895) (each prelude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

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• Deux Impromptus Opus 14 (1895) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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• Cinq Préludes Opus 15 (1896) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

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• Cinq Préludes Opus 16 (1894-1896) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

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• Sept Préludes Opus 17 (1895-1896) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

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• Allegro de concert Opus 18 in B-flat minor (1896-1897)

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The second sonata is for some of maritime inspiration.

• Sonate No. 2 “Sonate-Fantaisie” Opus 19 in G-sharp minor (1895-1897) (each movement can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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After his concerto for piano and orchestra opus 20, Scriabin returns to writing for solo piano

• Polonaise Opus 21 in B-flat minor (1897-1898)

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• Quatre Préludes Opus 22 (1896-1898) (each prelude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4)

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The third sonata is nicknamed “States of the soul”

• Sonate No. 3 Opus 23 in F-sharp minor (1897-1898) (each movement can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4)

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Opus 24 is a piece for orchestra “Rêverie”

• Neuf Mazurkas Opus 25 (1898-1899) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

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The first performance of the symphony No.1 opus 26 took place in Moscow on March 29, 1901 under the baton of his piano teacher Vasily Safonov

• Deux Préludes Opus 27 (1899) (each prelude can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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• Fantaisie Opus 28 (1900)

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Second period (1903-1910) :

The second symphony Opus 29, was created on January 12, 1902 in Saint Petersburg, under the direction of Anatoly Lyadov.

The fourth sonata is generally considered to be the beginning of Scriabin’s middle period due to the newly mystical sonorities and tonal ambiguity of the first movement.

• Sonate No. 4 Opus 30 in F-sharp major (1901-1903) (each movement can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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• Quatre Préludes Opus 31 (1903) (each prelude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4)

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First set of poems

• Deux Poèmes Opus 32 (1903) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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• Quatre Préludes Opus 33 (1903) (each prelude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4)

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• Poème Tragique Opus 34 in B-flat major (1903)

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• Trois Préludes Opus 35 (1903) (each prelude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3)

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• Poème Satanique Opus 36 (1903)

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• Quatre Préludes Opus 37 (1903) (each prelude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4)

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• Valse Opus 38 in A-flat major (1903)

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• Quatre Préludes Opus 39 (1903) (each prelude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4)

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• Deux Mazurkas Opus 40 (1903) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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• Poème Opus 41 in D-flat major (1903)

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• Huit Etudes Opus 42 (1903) (each etude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

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The third symphony, opus 43, was premiered in Paris on May 29, 1905, under the direction of Arthur Nikisch

• Deux Poèmes Opus 44 (1905) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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Opus 45 consists of an album leaf, a poem and a prelude

• Trois Morceaux Opus 45 (1905) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3)

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• Scherzo Opus 46 (1905)

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• Quasi valse Opus 47 (1905)

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• Quatre Préludes Opus 48 (1905) (each prelude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4)

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Opus 49 consists of an etude, a prelude and a reverie

• Trois Morceaux Opus 49 (1905) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3)

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Opus 50 was not used by Scriabin. Maybe because of a superstition.

The 4 pieces of opus 51 are: “Fragilité”, “Prélude”, “Poème ailé” et “Danse languide”

• Quatre Morceaux Opus 51 (1906) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4)

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Opus 52 consists of two poems and an enigma (central piece)

• Trois Morceaux Opus 52 (1905-1907) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3)

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Created on November 18, 1908 in Moscow, the fifth sonata breaks with the classical form and has a single movement.

• Sonate No. 5 Opus 53 (1907)

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The Poem of Ecstasy (op. 54) was premiered on December 10, 1908 in New York under the direction of Modest Altschuler.

Opus 55 is not used by Scriabin, again perhaps due to superstition

Opus 56 consists of 4 pieces: Prélude, Ironies, Nuances and Etude

• Quatre Morceaux Opus 56 (1907) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4)

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Opus 57 consists of 2 pieces: Désir and Caresse dansée

• Deux Morceaux Opus 57 (1908) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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• Feuillet d’album Opus 58 (1910)

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Opus 59 consists of 2 pieces: Poème and Prélude

• Deux Morceaux Opus 59 (1910) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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Third period (1911-1915) :

With the sixth sonata and the symphonic poem Prometheus (op. 60), Scriabin enters his last period, turned towards a modernist current.

• Poème-nocturne Opus 61 (1911)

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• Sonate No. 6 Opus 62 (1911-1912)

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• Deux Poèmes Opus 63 (1911-1912) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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The seventh sonata is also known as the “Messe blanche”

• Sonate No. 7 “Messe Blanche” Opus 64 (1911-1912)

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• Trois Etudes Opus 65 (1912) (each etude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3)

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• Sonate No. 8 Opus 66 (1913)

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• Deux Préludes Opus 67 (1913) (each prelude can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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The ninth sonata is also known as the “Messe noire”. This title is not by the composer.

• Sonate No. 9 “Messe Noire” Opus 68 in F major (1913)

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• Deux Poèmes Opus 69 (1913) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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The tenth and final sonata is often called “Les insectes”.

• Sonate No. 10 Opus 70 (1913)

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• Deux Poèmes Opus 71 (1913-1914) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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• Vers la Flamme Opus 72 (1914)

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• Deux Danses Opus 73 (1914) (each piece can be viewed separately: 1, 2)

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Opus 74 is Scriabin’s last work.

• Cinq Préludes Opus 74 (1914) (each prelude can be viewed separately: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

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Many thanks and congratulations to Petr Laul for sharing all of his performances.

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