Length: 00:07:07 Hrs
Currently 0.0 / 5.0 Stars
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What the Critics Say
As far as discs of the piano sonatas of Prokofiev go, this one with Sviatoslav Richter playing the Second and Sixth in Prague in 1965 and the Ninth in 1956 is about as close to definitive as anything can ever get in this world. Richter's strength and control, his passionate intensity, and his complete command of every aspect of technique and interpretation is brought to bear on Prokofiev's music, music closely identified with Richter and in one case composed by Prokofiev for Richter. Although Richter grew up playing Prokofiev's Second and Sixth sonatas, Prokofiev dedicated his Ninth and final sonata to Richter and Richter's interpretation is the aural incarnation of the music. As brusque and bright as his Second is, and as brutal and brilliant as his Sixth is, Richter's performance of Prokofiev's final sonata is on the same level as his performances of Schubert's final sonata or his performance of Shostakovich's last Prelude and Fugue, that is, as concentrated, as enormous, and as universal as the greatest music ever composed. Praga's sound is dim, dark, and clangorous, but Richter's performances justify everything. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide
