Prokofiev: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2

PRITCHIN FAVORIN

Firma Melodiya presents an album recorded by violinist Aylen Pritchin and pianist Yuri Favorin. “He dislikes beaten tracks. He prefers to force his way through virgin thickets, crushing obstacles with a steady hand, breaking hard rocks and taking running jumps into deep streams…” The words said by a music critic about Sergei Prokofiev could be rightfully applied to the heroes of this album. Pritchin and Favorin are arguably the brightest Russian musicians of the generation in their thirties – the violinist, who combines the merits of the St. Petersburg and Moscow performing schools and is a winner of the grand prix of the Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition in Paris and many other prestigious tournaments; and the pianist, a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, and an active performer of contemporary music. Aylen Pritchin’s and Yuri Favorin’s infrequent joint performances are known for their quite extraordinary repertoire. It’s in this spirit that they present this album of Sergei Prokofiev’s music. The composer, who started out as a rebel and tradition-buster, became a 20th century classic in his lifetime. However, interpreted by the young musicians, the vibes of Prokofiev’s music rip the academic clichés to shreds.

Price: $27.98