Skrjabin’s 9th Sonata is often referred to as the “Black Mass”. Unlike the 7th Sonata, the so-called “White Mass”, this name did not stem from the composer. He writes: “In the ninth sonata I came closer than ever before to the Satanic ...”. The mystic-dark sphere fascinated Skrjabin. Anyone who listens to this bizarre work will involuntarily become caught up in the diabolical vortex – the music heads towards the sonata’s dramatic conclusion as if being pulled in an undertow.

The highly expres...