Prokofiev:
- Piano Sonatas Nos. 2, 4 and 7
The beginning of my own connection with Sergey Prokofiev stems from my enjoyment of his violin concertos. There are two of these, and many of the world’s artists have allowed us to enjoy these works.
After these concertos, I came to hear Prokofiev’s symphonies, and later also his works for piano solo.
On this CD, we get to hear the following:
Prokofiev:
- Piano Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 14
- Piano Sonata No. 4 in C minor, Op. 29
- Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat major, Op. 83
Performed by Evgeni Koroliov (piano)
Evgeni Koroliov was born in Moscow, and he still remains relatively unknown in the US. With his recording of the 2nd, 4th and 7th Piano Sonatas of Sergei Prokofiev, we can now finally get to know this pianist better, and also hear his interpretations of Prokofiev’s piano works.
The 2nd Sonata, composed in 1912, is typical of Prokofiev’s original personal style. The 4th Sonata of 1917 has a completely different character, its first movement beginning with quiet grace – the sad sounds are explained by the dedication of this work to a friend who had recently committed suicide.
The 7th Sonata was composed a decade later. Glenn Gouldsaid the following about this sonata:
“The first movement not only contains some of Prokofiev’s best music, but is, in open disregard of the Soviet musical maxim of direct accessibility, perhaps the closest to an atonal harmonic plan he ever applied.”
The tracks on this CD are as follows:
Sergey Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 14
I. Allegro, ma non troppo
II. Scherzo: Allegro marcato
III. Andante
IV. Vivace
Sergey Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 4 in C minor, Op. 29
I. Allegro molto sostenuto
II. Andante assai
III. Allegro con brio, ma non leggiere
Sergey Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat major, Op. 83
I. Allegro inquieto
II. Andante caloroso
III. Precipitato
Here is Prokofiev’s Piano Sonata No.2, as performed by Sviatoslav Richter:
http://youtu.be/mkiLWwNGhHw
And next, here is Grigory Sokolov playing Prokofiev’s piano sonata No. 7
Tags: Sergey Prokofiev, piano sonatas, Evgeni Koroliov