Four Fairy Tales, Op. 35

Op. 35 belongs to a period when Medtner was increasingly interested in broadening the expressive range of the Skazka. Scholars have noted that these works move beyond the predominantly lyrical world of the early tales toward more dramatic, tragic, and pictorial narratives. The fourth tale, in particular, is often associated with a Shakespearean atmosphere and has sometimes been linked to King Lear, though Medtner left no official program.