Kabalevsky: Complete Preludes

The label CPO continues its exploration of the music of Dmitri Kabalevsky, one of the Soviet Union’s leading composers, with his complete Preludes for piano. These rarities are played by Michael Korstick, who previously recorded the composer’s complete piano sonatas. Inspired by composers including Bach and Scriabin, Kabalevsky wrote a complete cycle of 24 Preludes as well as an additional 13, all recorded here.

Featuring

Michael Korstick
Dimitri Kabalevsky

Did you know?

1/7

Composition History

Kabalevsky wrote his Six Preludes and Fugues op. 61 in 1958 and 1959 with a clear pedagogical purpose, aiming to introduce young pianists to polyphonic piano playing.

Notable Performances

The premiere of Kabalevsky's 24 Preludes op. 38 was given by Yakov Flier (1912-1977), a prominent Soviet pianist known as 'The Knight of Romanticism'.

Composition History

Kabalevsky's 24 Preludes op. 38 were composed in 1943 during wartime, with the intention of demonstrating patriotism and confidence.

Composer Biography

Kabalevsky's first official composition, the Three Preludes op. 1, was written in 1925 during his freshman year at the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied piano with Alexander Goldenweiser and composition with Georgi Catoire.

Composer's Artistic Vision

For his 24 Preludes op. 38, Kabalevsky based each of the 24 piano miniatures on a Russian folk melody to evoke the strength of traditional Russian character.