Following his acclaimed recording of
Scriabin was by natural inclination a miniaturist, and he composed short piano pieces throughout his life. His Préludes—fleeting evocations sometimes less than a page in length—foreshadow the Visions fugitives of Prokofiev and are descendants of the equally compact Préludes of Chopin.
Like a musical Fabergé, Scriabin is capable of creating a glittering world in a tiny space; the exquisite writing reflects the composer's own subtle pianism, which he liked to describe as 'crystalline' and 'perfumed'. The poetic diversity of these miniatures creates a fascinating programme, ranging from volcanic energy and disturbing violence to haunting stillness and atmospheric illusion.