Photo: Apple MusicSomnia
Dreams on the Piano
“Somnia” is Latin, meaning “dreams.”
And this album is a piano journey about dreams. Russian pianist Denis Kozhukhin, with his sound, interprets the “dreams” depicted by composers including Scriabin, Ravel, Prokofiev, and Tchaikovsky.
Scriabin’s Mystery
Scriabin is one of the album’s core composers. His music carries a mystical color; those hazy, half-awake harmonies perfectly fit the “dream” theme.
Kozhukhin’s Scriabin has a rich, rounded tone, rendering those complex harmonies both clear and mistily hazy.
Ravel’s Color
The album also includes Ravel’s works. Ravel’s piano music is colorful, yet carries a dreamlike distance.
Kozhukhin makes Ravel’s melodies both refined and fluid, like an Impressionist dream.
Why Listen
Kozhukhin is the 2010 Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition gold medalist, regarded as a leading representative of the Russian piano school today.
This album was praised by The Classic Review for its “rich, rounded tone.” It is an album suited for late-night listening—letting you, in the music, enter a journey of dreams.
Further Listening
If you love piano music, Charlotte Hu’s Goyescas and Leif Ove Andsnes’s Liszt Via Crucis are both worth hearing.
About the Performer
Russian pianist, winner of the 2010 Queen Elisabeth Competition gold medal.
About the Composer
Russian composer and pianist (1872–1915), known for his mystical, color-saturated music.
French composer (1875–1937).
Russian composer (1891–1953).
Russian composer (1840–1893).
Taiwan Performance History
Pianist Denis Kozhukhin performed Brahms's Second Piano Concerto with the NSO National Symphony Orchestra in Taipei on November 1, 2025.