Overview
NIKOLAI MEDTNER
(1880-1951)
Rediscovering One of Music’s Great Forgotten Voices
Among the towering figures of Russian piano music, Nikolai Medtner (1880–1951) remains one of the most remarkable—and least understood. A contemporary of Rachmaninoff and Scriabin, Medtner created a vast body of piano music distinguished by its lyrical richness and profound artistic integrity. Yet despite the admiration of musicians such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, who regarded Medtner as one of the greatest composers of his generation, much of his music remains unfamiliar to audiences today. The Nikolai Medtner Recording Project is a long-term initiative dedicated to bringing Medtner’s complete solo piano works to modern listeners through a nine-volume recording series on Centaur Records. Through these recordings, I hope to illuminate the extraordinary depth, imagination, and emotional power of a composer whose voice deserves a place alongside the most celebrated masters of the piano repertoire.
The Recording Project
This project aims to document Medtner’s complete solo piano output across nine recordings, encompassing sonatas, fairy tales (Skazki), character pieces, and other larger-scale works that reveal the full breadth of his artistic vision.
Why Medtner?
I first encountered Medtner’s music as a student at The Juilliard School and was immediately captivated by its evocative and ethereal qualities. His works possess the narrative sweep of great literature and a distinctly personal poetic voice. The more deeply I explored his music, the more convinced I became that Medtner is one of the most significant composers still awaiting widespread rediscovery.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Medtner remained steadfastly committed to the Germanic tradition of J.S. Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms during a period of rapid artistic change. His music speaks with a timeless sincerity that continues to resonate with performers and audiences alike.
Latest Updates
Presented the lecture-recital Rediscovering Nikolai Medtner in Chicago (March 2026), introducing audiences to Medtner's life, artistic philosophy, and selected piano works.
Listen to my latest release of Volume 2
I invite you to discover the remarkable artistry of Nikolai Medtner through these recordings, performances, and educational resources. Whether you are encountering his music for the first time or are already an admirer of his work, I hope this project offers new insights into one of the most compelling voices of the late Romantic tradition.
“The sole problem of every epoch should be the preservation of a continuous connection with the great past.”
— Nikolai Medtner, The Muse and the Fashion
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