Nikolai Karlovich Medtner, born in Moscow in 1880, is best known for his Skazki (also known as "Fairy Tales") for piano. These 38 piano pieces contain some of his most original and engaging compositions and represent a significant portion of his output. A younger contemporary of Rachmaninoff and Scriabin, he composed numerous works, all featuring the piano.
His published output includes fourteen piano sonatas, three piano concertos, several violin works including three sonatas, a piano quintet, two works for two pianos, many shorter piano pieces, and 108 songs, including two important vocalises. Although his Skazki often take center stage, his other compositions deserve equal attention.
Medtner began his musical training with piano lessons from his mother before being admitted to the Moscow Conservatory at the age of ten. In 1900, at the age of 20, he graduated with the Anton Rubinstein Prize, having studied under teachers such as Pabst, Sapellnikov, Safonov, and Taneyev.
Despite his conservative musical preferences, Medtner's compositions were highly regarded by his contemporaries, and his skills as a piano virtuoso were second only to Rachmaninoff's. To his family's surprise, but with the support of his former teacher Taneyev, he soon abandoned a career as a pianist and turned to composition instead.
After a period of relative obscurity in the 25 years following his death, Medtner is now increasingly recognized as one of the most important Russian composers for piano. His works, characterized by originality and profound musical understanding, continue to captivate the music world with their complexity and beauty.