Rachmaninov composed his Cello Sonata in 1901, more than a decade after his Cello Romance of 1890, and it marked his recovery from a severe artistic crisis caused by the failure of his First Symphony.
Historical Context
Sergei Prokofiev, like many other composers in Stalin's Soviet Union, faced state criticism for his works being deemed 'formalistic' or 'hostile to the people'.
Composition History
Scriabin's Romance for horn and piano (arranged for cello on this album) is one of his only chamber music works, and little is known about its origin.
Composer Biography
Alexander Scriabin primarily focused on piano music, with 65 out of his 72 opus-numbered works composed for solo piano.
Composition History
Prokofiev retreated to chamber music during a dangerous time in the Soviet Union, as it was considered 'above suspicion' from state scrutiny.
Performer Biography
Andrei Korobeinikov, the pianist on this album, started playing piano at age five, gave his first public recital at eight, and has won over 20 international competition prizes.
Compositional Technique
Rachmaninov's Cello Sonata features an orchestral-sounding piano part and a skillfully written cello part that avoids competition with the piano, ensuring both voices are equal.
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Myaskovsky & Rimsky-Korsakov: Cello Works
Sonatas for Cello and Piano
Kabalevsky: Sonata, Op. 71 - Hummel: Grande Sonata, Op. 104 - Busoni: Piccola suite, Op. 23
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An Eastern Trip
Volkmann: Romanze in E Major, Op. 7 - Kirchner: 8 Pieces for Piano, Op. 79
