Lera Auerbach (1973, Russia) was a child prodigy in Soviet Russia, and in 1990 defected as one of the last Soviet artists to the West. She completed studies first at Juilliard, later at the Hannover Hochschule for Musik in Germany. In the West she has made a name for herself as composer and pianist, while in her native Russia she is said to be better known as published poet.
In 1999 Auerbach completed her cycle of 24 Preludes written for violin and piano and dedicated to Vadim Gluzman and his wife Angela Yoffe, who in 2002 recorded the music for the Swedish BIS label. The album was released in 2003. This cycle stands in the old tradition of Preludes written for all major and minor keys, and it is beautiful music well worth to be known better.
Auerbach has written other Prelude cycles for piano solo, for cello and piano, and for viola and piano (played live with Camerata Pacifica some years ago). She also has written ballet music, operas, concerts and chamber music.
