With her debut album Time and Gravity, Georgian pianist Irma Gigani turns to Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Sonatas Nos. 2, 4, and 8. For the artist, time and gravity serve as metaphors for the human condition: time as an unstoppable flow between memory, hope, and the present moment; gravity as the invisible force of attraction and energy. In Prokofiev's richly layered musical language, she finds the ideal space to explore these ideas-balancing personal expression with the universal themes of human existence, between freedom and constraint, love and pain, beauty and the abyss. Born in Tbilisi in 1996, Irma Gigani is regarded as one of the most remarkable pianists of her generation. Already as a child, she won numerous international competitions and appeared as a soloist with renowned orchestras throughout Europe and Israel. Her concert engagements have taken her to France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, Romania, and beyond. She has performed at prestigious venues including the Musikverein in Vienna, the Salle Cortot in Paris, and-performing Bach's Goldberg Variations-the Konzerthaus Berlin, Vatican City in Rome, and many others.

Sergei Prokofiev's nine piano sonatas, composed between 1909 and 1951, are a monumental body of work that showcases the composer's stylistic evolution through a turbulent period of history. Renowned for their virtuosic technical demands and psychological depth, the sonatas are considered a cornerstone of the 20th-century piano repertoire. The famous "War Sonatas" (Nos. 6, 7, and 8) are among his most significant and powerful works. Acclaimed pianist Carlo Grante is celebrated for his vast repertoire, commanding technique, and scholarly interpretations. A prolific recording artist, he is particularly renowned for making the first-ever complete recording of Domenico Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas performed by a single pianist. In addition to Scarlatti, his recordings cover a vast spectrum of composers, from established masters like Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, and Brahms to lesser known composers and contemporary figures like Busoni and Godowsky. Many contemporary composers have dedicated works to Grante, including Bruce Adolphe (Chopin Dreams), Roman Vlad (Opus Triplex), and Michael Finnissy. Praised for his technical mastery and profound musicianship, Fabio Luisi, the former Principal Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, described Carlo Grante as "one of the most astonishing artists I have ever known and worked with." Vienna's Die Presse dubbed him "a knight of the piano, without blemish and without fear."

Jan Bartos and Jakub Hrusa: Ullmann, Stravinsky, and Prokofiev in extraordinary contexts The new album by pianist Jan Bartos, the Bamberger Symphoniker, and conductor Jakub Hrusa brings together three major figures of music in the first half of the 20th century: Viktor Ullmann, Igor Stravinsky, and Sergei Prokofiev. It's programme reveals not only the stylistic affinities between their works, but also the remarkable connections all three composers had with interwar Czechoslovakia and it's vibrant musical life. At the heart of the recording is Viktor Ullmann's Piano Concerto, Op. 25 (1939), dedicated to the pianist Juliette Arányi. It's musical language combines impulses from the Second Viennese School with a rhythmic energy reminiscent of Stravinsky and Prokofiev. In 1942, Ullmann and Arányi were deported to Theresienstadt, where they became involved in the musical life of the ghetto. A planned performance of the concerto there never took place. In 1944, both were transported to Auschwitz and murdered; the work did not receive it's world premiere until 1992, in Stuttgart. The album is complemented by Stravinsky's Symphonies of Wind Instruments and Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat major. Stravinsky visited interwar Czechoslovakia repeatedly, where his music found a strong response, notably from Václav Talich and Bohuslav Martinu. Talich was also an important advocate of Prokofiev's music; in 1934, the composer himself performed his First Piano Concerto in Prague. Also noteworthy are the historical ties between the Bamberger Symphoniker and Prague. The orchestra was founded in 1946 by musicians from the former Deutsche Philharmonie Prag, linking it's origins to Prague's German musical milieu, in which Viktor Ullmann was also active. The collaboration between Jan Bartos, Jakub Hrusa, and the Bamberger Symphoniker thus evokes the extraordinarily rich cultural world of Central Europe in the first half of the 20th century.

For this second album on Alpha Classics (following ALPHA885), Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Fazil Say are not only an extraordinary performing duo, but also composers. They have recorded Szymanowski's magnificent Myths and Prokofiev's sonata, written between 1938 and 1946 amid the violence and fear of war and the Soviet regime- 'Every note says something about today' Kopatchinskaja emphasizes but it is Say's sonata Lost Screams-written for Patricia Kopatchinskaja-that opens this program: 'It embodies the struggles, fears, and silent protests of our times,' explains Fazil Say. Patkop's UniSolo closes the album: she sought to create a musical process without knowing it's outcome: ' At the beginning it revolves around the note A - Situations then developed from this that have surprised even me,' explains Kopatchinskaja, who concludes: 'Composing opens up your ears and dispels any sense of awe. I feel freer, and regard my works as living beings whom I've been conversing with for my whole life.'

Rarely heard, Sergei Prokofiev's own transcriptions for solo piano reveal a fascinating new perspective on his orchestral imagination. This collection brings together rare piano versions of symphonic and ballet works, including several world premiere recordings. Far from simple reductions, these transcriptions transform works such as the 'Classical' Symphony, Le pas d'acier or L'Enfant prodigue into dazzling and highly personal creations. Performed by Alexey Zuev, a specialist of Russian twentieth-century repertoire, and enriched by the research of leading Prokofiev scholar Marina Raku, this album sheds fresh light on a little-known but essential facet of Prokofiev's creative world.

The classicism that emerged in Vienna with Mozart and Haydn was later revisited by Prokofiev in Russia, Poulenc in France, and, most unexpectedly, Villa-Lobos in Brazil. Each composer reimagined this tradition through a sparkling, modern, and energetic lens shaped by their own heritage. Now, Brazilian conductor Simone Menezes leads the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien in a program that takes us back to the city where this tradition was born. Recorded in Vienna and featuring Prokofiev's Classical Symphony, Villa-Lobos's Sinfonietta 'In Memory of Mozart', and Poulenc's Sinfonietta, these performances bring the music full circle. A dialogue across continents and centuries, shaped by clarity and contrast, this is a vibrant and cosmopolitan homage.

The young talent Michal Balas has recorded Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertante together with the Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra. This album will follow his well received debut release on Berlin Classic, which featured hte Haydn Cello Concertos. Balas was recognized as "Classic FM 30 under 30 rising stars" and won the first prizes at "Classic String Competition" in Dubai as well as many other competitions.

The Royal Ballet's perfect pairing of Marianela Nunez and Vadim Muntagirov takes centre stage in this collection of four fairytale favourites. Royal Ballet founding choreographer Frederick Ashton's Cinderella was brought back to Covent Garden in 2023 to celebrate it's 75th Anniversary with a creative team steeped in the magic of theatre, film and dance bringing new atmosphere to Cinderella's ethereal world of fairy godmothers and pumpkin carriages, handsome princes and finding true love. Ninette de Valois' charming and funny Coppelia is a classic of The Royal Ballet repertory - a story of love, mischief and mechanical dolls. The intricate choreography is set to Delibes' delightful score and shows off the technical precision and comedic timing of the whole company. Osbert Lancaster's designs bring a colourful storybook world to life in this entertaining and joyful ballet. Marius Petipa's The Sleeping Beauty holds a special place in The Royal Ballet's repertory, with it's vibrant sets and glittering costumes and featuring such iconic moments as the Rose Adage, the Vision Pas de Deux, the exuberant wedding celebration and the charming fairy-tale guests, all danced to Tchaikovsky's richly layered music - one of the most beloved ballet scores of all time. Swan Lake is perhaps the best-loved of all the classical ballets. This production by Liam Scarlett features additional choreography while remaining faithful to Petipa and Ivanov's classic. John Macfarlane's opulent designs provide an atmospheric, period setting for this enthralling love story, illuminated by Tchaikovsky's sublime score.

The Royal Ballet's perfect pairing of Marianela Nunez and Vadim Muntagirov takes centre stage in this collection of four fairytale favourites. Royal Ballet founding choreographer Frederick Ashton's Cinderella was brought back to Covent Garden in 2023 to celebrate it's 75th Anniversary with a creative team steeped in the magic of theatre, film and dance bringing new atmosphere to Cinderella's ethereal world of fairy godmothers and pumpkin carriages, handsome princes and finding true love. Ninette de Valois' charming and funny Coppelia is a classic of The Royal Ballet repertory - a story of love, mischief and mechanical dolls. The intricate choreography is set to Delibes' delightful score and shows off the technical precision and comedic timing of the whole company. Osbert Lancaster's designs bring a colourful storybook world to life in this entertaining and joyful ballet. Marius Petipa's The Sleeping Beauty holds a special place in The Royal Ballet's repertory, with it's vibrant sets and glittering costumes and featuring such iconic moments as the Rose Adage, the Vision Pas de Deux, the exuberant wedding celebration and the charming fairy-tale guests, all danced to Tchaikovsky's richly layered music - one of the most beloved ballet scores of all time. Swan Lake is perhaps the best-loved of all the classical ballets. This production by Liam Scarlett features additional choreography while remaining faithful to Petipa and Ivanov's classic. John Macfarlane's opulent designs provide an atmospheric, period setting for this enthralling love story, illuminated by Tchaikovsky's sublime score.

At first glance, the choice of composers for this recording seems like an odd match: one cultivated a harsh, expressive musical language, while the other was a proponent of introspective soundscapes. One piece ends in an explosion, while the other offers us meditative contemplation. We also have an apparent clash of nationalities: Prokofiev was Russian, (b. Sontsivka, Ukraine) Silvestrov is Ukrainian, and conductor Dmitry Matvienko is Belarusian. But through art and music, we can always meet in dialogue and mutual understanding. What may first seem like madness has a clear logic. In Dmitry Matvienko's view, there are strong links between the two composers. Quoting Valentin Silvestrov's belief that "only melody makes music eternal," Matvienko explains why he chose Quiet Music for this recording. Despite very different musical languages, both composers were exceptional melodists who regarded melody as the foundation of all music, regardless of genre or 20thcentury avant-garde trends. Matvienko also sees both works as shaped by their historical realities. Prokofiev's symphony reflects the devastation of the post-war era and foreshadows future catastrophe, while Silvestrov's Quiet Music, written in 2002, predates but resonates deeply with later conflicts. Prokofiev could not have imagined the tragedy that would unfold decades after his death, yet history reveals the cyclical nature of evil. His work on Eisenstein's Ivan the Terrible exposed a ruler's destructive paranoia - an allusion Stalin recognized. Today, Matvienko argues, history repeats itself in new forms. Against this, Silvestrov's Quiet Music offers consolation: a place of refuge open to anyone, beyond nationality or religion, where sorrow can briefly be set aside. It was very important to Dmitry Matvienko to include this piece in this recording: "Silvestrov said in one of his interviews" - "I am so tired of the noise of this world ",- "I understand that and feel it very deeply. More and more often I walk at night and listen to his music; not in headphones, but inside. And it gives me peace. I want this piece to be therapy and solace for our listeners as well."

This debut joint album by a married duo of distinguished pianists captures two artists at the height of their international careers, delivering masterful interpretations that affirm their virtuosity and artistic maturity. Both works reflect turbulent chapters in their composers' lives, tracing themes of transformation, memory, irony, intimacy, and emotional honesty. The result is music that invites deep reflection on both artistic and personal truth, while also immersing the listener in moments of pure beauty-shaped by the fleeting, atmospheric spirit of the North.

Illia Ovcharenko, together with the MDR-Sinfonieorchester under the baton of Oksana Lyniv, presents Manu Sinistra, an album devoted to concertos for the left hand by Bortkiewicz, Prokofiev, and Ravel. These works were written for the pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm in World War I and responded to personal tragedy by commissioning new music. The programme unfolds as three radically different responses to this unique challenge, from the sweeping Romanticism of Bortkiewicz's Piano Concerto No. 2 to the sharply defined and seldom-performed Fourth Concerto by Prokofiev - a work Wittgenstein himself could not comprehend. At the centre stands Ravel's Concerto for the Left Hand, a dark, masterfully constructed work of striking colour and illusion. For Ovcharenko, winner of the 2022 Honens International Piano Competition, this repertoire resonates deeply, further enriched by the presence of Ukrainian-born Sergei Bortkiewicz, whose voice connects the album to the pianist's heritage. A Classeek Ambassador Programme Artist, Ovcharenko makes his PENTATONE debut in a concerto recording alongside Lyniv and the MDR-Sinfonieorchester.

Exciting music by Shostakovich and Prokofiev played by a violinist of the new generation In 2022, it was with Shostakovich's First Violin Concerto that Daniel Matejca, 17 years old at the time, triumphed at the competition Eurovision Young Musicians. Reviewers at journals including Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine, and Classica enthusiastically compared his Supraphon debut album of the complete sonatas for solo violin by Eugene Ysaye (2023) with recordings made by today's star violinists. It was clear that after that solo album, Matejca would soon return to the studio to record Shostakovich's First Concerto. The composer wrote it in 1947/48 for David Oistrakh. Shostakovich, however, had been labelled a "formalist", and is prominent use of Jewish musical motifs was another obstacle under the antisemitic Soviet regime, so the premiere of this exciting work was postponed until after Stalin's death. Sergei Prokofiev worked on his First Violin Concerto intermittently between 1914 and 1917. Full of contrasting passages, the work differs sharply from Shostakovich's dramatic concerto. Daniel Matejca is in his element in both concertos, playing with stirring energy and technical virtuosity, expressing a wide range of emotions, ranging from rawness to delicacy and captivating depth. The conductor Tomas Netopil is an experienced accompanist in the best sense of the word, shaping the orchestra's sound with a wide range of dynamic and colours, but above all keeping in perfect step with the soloist as he tells his story. The recording also features sound of extraordinary colour, presence, and spatial plasticity.

Violin and piano duo Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Huw Watkins explore a violin and piano programme spanning four generations of musical imagination. Prokofiev's F minor Sonata captivates with it's dramatic intensity and baroque-inspired clarity. Stravinsky's Duo Concertant enchants through five lyrical musical poems, blending wit, elegance, and classical poise. Knussen's 'Reflection', written for Waley-Cohen and Watkins, immerses listeners in a jewel-like world of colour and introspection, where every note is deliberately placed. Watkins's Violin Sonata fuses modern lyricism with bursts of earthy vitality, creating a dialogue of subtle contrasts.

For his second recital, Giorgi Gigashvili chose Prokofiev, a composer he has been playing intensively for ten years. Nicknamed the 'War Sonatas', these three masterpieces are, for him, "battles in themselves", sonatas to which one gives "heart and soul": "There is something almost inhuman in the writing. Sometimes it felt like Prokofiev wasn't asking me to play the piano, but to wrestle with it." The very personal title of the album - With all my breath and all my blood - reflects the voice of this young Georgian pianist, who has experienced the recent history of his country with great pain: "This music became the place where I poured my rage." His distinguished guest is his compatriot and friend Lisa Batiashvili, with whom he recorded a transcription for violin and piano of the famous "Dance of the Knights" from Romeo and Juliet, as well as a new work written especially for the duo by Josef Bardanashvili: To Giya, a tribute to Giya Kancheli.

The piano dances: new recordings of ballet classics in sparkling keyboard arrangements. Born in Russia, living and working in Germany, Ekaterina Litvintseva has made a string of critically acclaimed recordings for Piano Classics, featuring the music of Chopin, Rachmaninoff and more. On her latest album, she turns to a trio of ballet scores which have always captivated audiences for the particular genius of their marriage between story and music. She opens with Prokofiev's own arrangement of 10 pieces from Romeo and Juliet, followed by Guido Agosti's arrangement of the Suite from Stravinsky's Firebird, and Mikhail Pletnev's virtuoso transcription of dances from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. As in any popular recital, there are three encores: a waltz from Delibes' Coppelia (arranged by Erno Dohnanyi), Les Sauvages by Rameau, and finally another foot-tapping dance from the French Baroque, extracted from an opera by Lully. In these transcriptions, the pianist becomes more than just a substitute for the orchestra; she takes the role of a storyteller and a conduit for the expression of the ballet. The reduction of forces brings a more intense focus on the melodic lines, the harmonic progressions and the rhythmic subtleties of the music. Prokofiev chose to recompose and distil the essence of pivotal moments in Romeo and Juliet rather than making straightforward arrangements. In their own ways, Agosti and Pletnev also demonstrate that the essence of ballet can be captured and reimagined in the hands of a skilled pianist. While their versions of Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky have become crowd-pleasing pianistic tours de force in their own right, they also retain the elegance and the fundamental pulse of the original dances. 'The 30-something Ekaterina Litvintseva has been amassing a distinguished discography, and this... is a fine addition, exhibiting the combination of sensitivity and self-assurance that have marked her playing up until now... you owe it to yourself to make the acquaintance of Dora Pejacevic.' (Fanfare, reviewing PCL10226)

Sir Georg Solti was a frequent guest conductor with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Born in Hungary in 1912, he played a decisive role in rebuilding the Bavarian National Theatre after the war. From the 1960s onwards, he was considered one of the world's leading conductors alongside Leonard Bernstein and Herbert von Karajan. Georg Solti returned to Munich once more for a special concert on February 10, 1984, with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in the Herkulessaal of the Munich Residenz. Aged 71 and at the height of his career, he conducted excerpts from Sergei Prokofiev's ballet Romeo and Juliet and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony. Works by these two Russian composers, as well as Bruckner and Mahler, suited him particularly well, as they sounded musically spirited and exceptionally transparent. Prokofiev's three-act ballet Romeo and Juliet was written in 1935 for the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, but it's premiere did not take place until 1938, in Brno in the Czech Republic. At the special concert in Munich in 1984 with Georg Solti, fifteen numbers from the ballet music were performed in chronological order. Pyotr Tchaikovsky dedicated his Fourth Symphony - composed in 1877/78 at the same time as his opera Eugene Onegin - to his patron Nadezhda von Meck. Despite their lengthy correspondence, they never actually met. In a letter to her dated March 1878, Tchaikovsky outlined the feelings he had experienced while composing his Fourth Symphony, though no specific programme can be discerned from them.

Based on a short novel by Dostoyevsky, Prokofiev's The Gambler unfolds in the fictional casino town of Roulettenburg, where a variety of characters converge and clash. These characters include a General indebted to a covetous Marquis, the General's resentful stepdaughter Polina, and Alexey, who harbors feelings for her. Director Peter Sellars, known for his insightful interpretations of overlooked masterpieces, challenges us to mirror the bravery of Dostoyevsky and Prokofiev - the courage to confront our inner darkness. The musical direction of Russian conductor Timur Zangiev shines together with the vocal performances of the exceptional cast: "Asmik Grigorian portraying a passionate Polina, and Sean Panikkar delivering a powerful performance as Alexei" (Financial Times) "Peter Sellars... has done what this exceptional director always tries to do: present an old, distant story as an analysis of the here and now" (Suddeutsche Zeitung) "A triumph of vision and passion" (European News Agency) "Grand sound cinema" (Bachtrack)

Based on a short novel by Dostoyevsky, Prokofiev's The Gambler unfolds in the fictional casino town of Roulettenburg, where a variety of characters converge and clash. These characters include a General indebted to a covetous Marquis, the General's resentful stepdaughter Polina, and Alexey, who harbors feelings for her. Director Peter Sellars, known for his insightful interpretations of overlooked masterpieces, challenges us to mirror the bravery of Dostoyevsky and Prokofiev - the courage to confront our inner darkness. The musical direction of Russian conductor Timur Zangiev shines together with the vocal performances of the exceptional cast: "Asmik Grigorian portraying a passionate Polina, and Sean Panikkar delivering a powerful performance as Alexei" (Financial Times) "Peter Sellars... has done what this exceptional director always tries to do: present an old, distant story as an analysis of the here and now" (Suddeutsche Zeitung) "A triumph of vision and passion" (European News Agency) "Grand sound cinema" (Bachtrack)

Continuity. The piece "October" from Tchaikovsky's "Seasons" op. 37 comes from an older recording by Evgeni Koroliov from 1992 (TACET 25). That was the time of the Yugoslav Wars and the collapse of the Soviet Union. I remember that Evgeni Koroliov, who was born in Moscow, spoke during a break in his gentle manner about how this music was for him a reminder of irretrievable times before the Russian revolution. 33 years later, Koroliov speaks as he did then, he has remained true to himself and his playing, the times are just as confused and uncertain. Even the sound is similar. Accordingly, the new recordings on this "Russian" CD are permeated by a similar longing for a better world, which never existed as beautifully as in this music. I am happy and grateful to have been able to accompany this quiet and expressive artist, who enriches the music world so lastingly, on TACET for such a long time. This is already his 26th recording on TACET and the second CD this year, the second of three!

A colossal work that defies all boundaries: Prokofiev's monumental setting of Tolstoy's epic novel War and Peace. The story, set during Napoleon's Russian campaign between 1809 and 1812, is condensed by the composer into a powerful sequence of scenes in which the love story between Natasha Rostova and Andrei Bolkonsky alternates in striking contrast with the depiction of the Russian army's battle against the French invasion-interwoven yet deeply connected. The music narrates how the aristocracy's rigid social hierarchy stands in the way of two young people's happiness, how seduction succeeds while an abduction fails, how some renounce their love while others fall as heroes-all while people, amidst the grandeur, search for true connection. With a wealth of magnificent themes and poignant moments, Prokofiev's operatic masterpiece merges social drama and historical chronicle into a sweeping panorama. Dmitri Tcherniakov's staging presents a gathering of people in a historically charged setting: the famous Pillar Hall of the House of the Unions in Moscow. Forced into an indefinite coexistence, they instinctively begin to embody characters, reenact conversations, scenes, and celebrations, as if drawing from a vast collective memory. What starts as an impromptu role-play soon turns into an emotional experience where the lines between assumed and genuine feelings blur. An outstanding ensemble performs under the musical direction of General Music Director Vladimir Jurowski.

A colossal work that defies all boundaries: Prokofiev's monumental setting of Tolstoy's epic novel War and Peace. The story, set during Napoleon's Russian campaign between 1809 and 1812, is condensed by the composer into a powerful sequence of scenes in which the love story between Natasha Rostova and Andrei Bolkonsky alternates in striking contrast with the depiction of the Russian army's battle against the French invasion-interwoven yet deeply connected. The music narrates how the aristocracy's rigid social hierarchy stands in the way of two young people's happiness, how seduction succeeds while an abduction fails, how some renounce their love while others fall as heroes-all while people, amidst the grandeur, search for true connection. With a wealth of magnificent themes and poignant moments, Prokofiev's operatic masterpiece merges social drama and historical chronicle into a sweeping panorama. Dmitri Tcherniakov's staging presents a gathering of people in a historically charged setting: the famous Pillar Hall of the House of the Unions in Moscow. Forced into an indefinite coexistence, they instinctively begin to embody characters, reenact conversations, scenes, and celebrations, as if drawing from a vast collective memory. What starts as an impromptu role-play soon turns into an emotional experience where the lines between assumed and genuine feelings blur. An outstanding ensemble performs under the musical direction of General Music Director Vladimir Jurowski.

This album, which Denis Kozhukhin dedicates in memory of his parents, is very special and deeply personal to him. It brings together the innocence of Tchaikovsky's Children's Album, the playful yet technically demanding Music for Children by Prokofiev, and Alexey Shor's emotionally rich Piano Sonata No. 2. Tchaikovsky's pieces evoke childhood wonder and the fragility of life, while Prokofiev's "easy" works cleverly disguise technical challenges with mischievous charm. Shor's Sonata, filled with bold contrasts and introspective melodies, takes the listener on a journey of emotional discovery and resilience. Together, these works transcend their individual stories to offer a profound exploration of human experience - from the simplicity of childhood to the complexities of adulthood - all brought to life with Kozhukhin's masterful artistry. A prize-winner in prestigious competitions, including the Leeds International Piano Competition (2006) and the Queen Elizabeth Competition (2010), Denis Kozhukhin, has established himself as one of the greatest and most acclaimed pianists, with worldwide success. He now presents another chapter to his exclusive collaboration with PENTATONE, enriching the already extensive discography, after albums Grieg and Tchaikovsky's piano concertos (2016) which received a Gramophone Editor's Choice, Brahms' Ballades and Fantasies (2017) which was awarded 5 stars in Diapason, piano concertos by Ravel and Gershwin, Richard Strauss' Burleske (both 2018), Grieg: Lyric Pieces & Mendelssohn: Lieder ohne Worte (2019) which was selected as Gramophone's Recording of the Month, as well as the Cesar Franck's Symphonic Variations for piano and orchestra (2020).

Quatuor Danel, internationally celebrated for their interpretations of Shostakovich and Weinberg, present Sergei Prokofiev's rarely heard string quartets in a stunning new recording. Prokofiev composed only two quartets, yet these works reveal his genius in crafting masterpieces within a genre he rarely explored. The String Quartet No. 1 in B minor, Op. 50, was commissioned by the Library of Congress during Prokofiev's American tour in 1930. It's intricate textures and unconventional form, culminating in a poignant slow finale, showcase Prokofiev's unique voice and meticulous attention to detail. String Quartet No. 2 in F Major, Op. 92, composed during Prokofiev's wartime exile in the Caucasus, integrates Kabardinian folk themes into a vibrant, classical framework. It's lively dances and evocative melodies demonstrate his ability to merge folklore with sophisticated artistry. Completing the album is the Visions Fugitives, a series of fleeting miniatures originally written for piano and arranged for string quartet. This adaptation highlights Prokofiev's kaleidoscopic tonal palette and lyrical depth. Recorded in the Mendelssohn Hall of Leipzig's Gewandhaus in March 2024, this album offers a deeply immersive journey into Prokofiev's "closed world" - a magical blend of drama, intimacy, and innovation that defines his chamber music legacy.

This unique programme of four works for cello and piano by significant twentieth-century composers is a reflection of the greater interest in writing for the cello that the inspiration of two highly gifted instrumentalists was to have during that period. Thereby raising the importance of the instrument to a higher level in public appreciation than was previously the case, and bringing to attention music that would otherwise have remained largely unknown.

On 16 December 1932, Triton, a Parisian society devoted to the performance of new chamber music, was officially launched. Triton's members included Honegger, Milhaud, Poulenc and Prokofiev, whose Sonata for Two Violins, Op. 56 was given it's Western premiere at the society's inaugural concert.

Many people have been waiting for Behzod Abduraimov's performance of Prokofiev's second piano concerto - that powerful work which caused a scandal when it was first performed near St Petersburg in 1913 because it was considered too futuristic. The work that we hear today is a version that Prokofiev himself reconstructed and reworked in 1923, as his first version was burnt on his departure from Russia. Abduraimov gives a dazzling performance of the work with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and it's conductor Vasily Petrenko. The Prokofiev stands in stark contrast to Alexey Shor's Piano Concerto No. 1, which was composed and first performed in 2023. Abduraimov embraces the juxtaposition of the two works: "the depth and complexity of Prokofiev's universe is set against Shor's more lyrical and accessible art: each work reflects different facets of the human experience, and I think it's good to share this diversity of feelings, textures and moods".

Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev open two different paths toward the summit of pianism: one, a spiritual, profound, and tragic journey; the other, a macabre dance between irony and despair. Both, in their own way, are Everests that only a few manage to reach, but whose summit, once attained, transforms the one who plays. Playing the Third Concerto is, without a doubt, an epic journey, not only for it's technical difficulty but for the emotional depth it demands. Every time I perform it, I feel that I am drawing closer to that unfathomable mystery that is Rachmaninoff's music, a music that seems to contain within it all the pain and all the beauty of the world. Playing the Second Concerto is not only a challenge but an immersion into the perception of what music can or should be. Prokofiev mocks expectations, leads us to the edge of chaos, and then leaves us hanging, without a clear answer, as if telling us that in life, in the end, all that remains is the empty echo of applause. Josu de Solaun, praised by critics such as Nikolaus Frey of Fuldaer Zeitung for his "poetic sense of sound, bold artistic vision, and virtuosity," has won the International Classical Music Awards twice-2021 for chamber music and 2023 as Best Soloist. The ICMA jury recognized him as "one of the most impressive discoveries of the past decade," noting his boundless interpretive imagination and technical mastery.

Following the success of Prokofiev Milestones Vol. 1, SOMM Recordings is pleased to announce the release of the second volume of Prokofiev Milestones featuring the Slovenian violinist Lana Trotovsek and Spanish pianist Maria Canyigueral. For Russian composers born in the last decades of the nineteenth-century, the October Revolution of 1917 was cataclysmic. Sergei Prokofiev (1891 - 1953) was born in Ukraine, known at that time as 'Little Russia,' and he sought exile in the United States in 1918. By 1924, he had appeared as soloist in his first three piano concertos in London. But the pull of his homeland remained strong, and in the mid 1930s he decided to return. The initial works that Prokofiev produced in the Soviet Union-the film score for Lieutenant Kije, the children's tale Peter and the Wolf, and the ballet Romeo and Juliet-enjoyed wide public success. It was against this backdrop that Prokofiev began work on his First Violin Sonata, Op. 80, one of his most serious works with a singular depth of expression. The second sonata on this release was commissioned by the Soviet Committee of Arts Affairs. The Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 115 is a remarkably approachable work in neo-classical style. It wasn't publicly performed until six years after Prokofiev's death due to a decree in 1948 condemning the 'formalism' of much contemporary Soviet music. This recording also includes four transcriptions. During his first visit to America in 1918, Prokofiev composed a short suite for solo piano, Tales of an Old Grandmother. The second tale, an evocative piece with a nostalgic character, was later transcribed by the Russian-born violinist, Nathan Milstein. While in California, Prokofiev composed a set of songs without words, Five Melodies for soprano vocalise and piano. Five years later, in 1925, he arranged the pieces for violin and piano. After his return to the Soviet Union, and following the success of Romeo and Juliet, Prokofiev produced another highly successful ballet, Cinderella. Five pieces from the ballet were transcribed by the Soviet violinist Mikhail Fichtenholz for recital repertoire. In 1939, Jascha Heifetz published his transcription of the March from Prokofiev's 1921 opera, The Love of Three Oranges, which won praise from the composer himself. Prokofiev's instrument was the piano. This fact makes his lasting contributions to the violin repertoire, and his deep understanding of the inherent nature of the instrument, all the more remarkable. Of Vol 1: "a real coup for die-hard fans of my grandfather" Gabriel Prokofiev "This is an intriguing start to a series by imaginative and sensitive musicians."  "... both Boris Bizjak (flute) and Lana Trotovsek (violin) advocate for their respective versions with great affection and sympathy for the style. The well-balanced contribution of pianist Maria Canyigueral allows both flute and violin to take flight over a broad palette of timbres." Gramophone (Maria Frolova-Walker) "Sterling performances. Certainly, Prokofiev is in good hands." Textura