Prokofiev composed a huge quantity of solo piano music in his childhood, with the instrument serving as his workshop and laboratory.
Compositional Technique
Prokofiev's music is characterized by a double aspect, looking both forwards and backwards, evident in his piano sonatas.
Composition History
The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Piano Sonatas, often called 'war' sonatas, were conceived before the Nazi invasion of Russia, driven by Prokofiev's ambition to create original music in Stalin's Russia.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Prokofiev's piano sonatas hold a special place in his output, representing his most personal musical language, free from external dramatic, verbal, or visual associations.
Performer Biography
Freddy Kempf's third-place award at the 1998 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow caused audience protests and led the Russian press to proclaim him 'the hero of the competition'.
Composer Biography
Sergei Prokofiev, the composer, was considered a musical rebel who enjoyed shocking conservative elders in the early part of his career.
Performer Biography
Freddy Kempf, the pianist on this album, gained national prominence in 1992 by winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition.
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