Jānis Mediņš: 24 Dainas (Preludes)

Jānis Mediņš (1890-1966) was one of the pioneers of Latvian music: his works include the first Latvian opera, and he was also an important conductor and teacher. His 24 Dainas for piano — he took the title from Latvian folk-poetry — show the influence of Rachmaninov, Grieg and Scriabin and have a modal colour inherited from Latvian folk-music. Although their composition was spread over four decades — interrupted by the Second World War and Mediņš's exile in Sweden — the Dainas are unified by their passionate lyricism and epic sweep.

Jonathan Powell, piano