Prokofiev.org - Piano Sonata No 8 in B flat major Op.84

Piano Sonata No 8 in B flat major, Op 84

Genre: Piano Sonata
Key: B flat major
Duration: 32 minutes (approximate)

  1.   Andante dolce - Allegro moderato (inquieto) - Andante dolce, come prima -Allegro
  2.   Andante sognando
  3.   Vivace - Allegro ben marcato - Andantino - Vivace, come prima

Composed:	1939-1944
Premiere:	30-Dec-1944, Moscow, Emil Gilels (piano).


	Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas (complete) Artist(s): Frederic Chiu (Piano) Catalog Num: Harmonia Mundi 907086.88 Frederic Chiu has admitted that the Eighth Sonata is his favorite -- and it shows. He is simply brilliant, especially in the third movement, transcending all other recordings of the Eighth in pure energy and exhiliration. He approaches the Vivace at an almost suicidal tempo, yet the risk proves worth it as the finale is absolutely breathtaking. How he maintains clarity and control at such a tempo defies comprehension. In addition to the Gilels (see below), other recommended recordings of the Eighth include Richter, Bronfman, and a little-known recording by the brilliant South African pianist Steven de Groote, winner of the 1977 Van Cliburn competition who died tragically in 1989 at the age of only 36. [Sugi Sorensen]	PRKF Rating:


	Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Emil Gilels II Artist(s): Emil Gilels (piano) Conductor: Lorin Maazel Orchestra/Ensemble: New Philharmonia Orchestra, Catalog Num: Philips 456796 Gilels gave the premiere of this work way back in 1944. This recording, made 30 years later in 1974, is the only Gilels recording of the Eighth that is still easily obtainable on CD. It is an exquisite, restrained reading from Gilels. Normally unbridled in his power (his teacher Heinrich Neuhaus once remarked "he likes to play loud and he likes to play fast"), Gilels is reserved and deeply probing. Nothing is rushed, fingerwork and phrasing are clean, the tempo is restrained. Uncharacteristic for Gilels, the results are still mesmerizing. This is the Gilels at his introspective best. [Sugi Sorensen]	PRKF Rating:


	Sviatoslav Richter Plays Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev Artist(s): Sviatoslav Richter (piano) Catalog Num: Deutsche Grammophon 423573 Both Richter and Gilels used to be fellow students and friends of the composer himself. And these performances are a good testimony to their greatness, and to their special relationship with Prokofiev's music. Richter's is the one that is marginally more exciting, with faster speeds and delicate, rapid fingerwork. His dynamic control and sheer command of colour is breathtaking, and he understands the work more than anyone else. Every turn of a phrase is twisted and manipulated with such mastery, culminating in a riveting finale that has one at the edge of the seat. This is part of an astounding recital disc, containing selections by Scriabin, Debussy and Prokofiev's Visions Fugitives, all given stunning performances. Sound quality varies, but is generally adequate. Besides, such great piano-playing should never ever be bypassed just because the recording quality is not good. [Lionel Choi] ( This review also appears at The Prokofiev Collected Works website. )

	Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Emil Gilels II Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Medtner, Liszt, et al. Artist(s): Emil Gilels (piano) Conductor: Lorin Maazel Orchestra/Ensemble: New Philharmonia Orchestra, Catalog Num: Philips 456796 Release Date: March 9, 1999	PRKF Rating:

	Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas nos 7, 8 / Yefim Bronfman Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Yefim Bronfman (piano) Catalog Num: Sony Classical 44680 Release Date: November 15, 1988	PRKF Rating:

	Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas (complete) Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Frederic Chiu (Piano) Catalog Num: Harmonia Mundi 907086.88 Release Date: September 1, 1992	PRKF Rating:

	Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Nos. 3, 7 & 8 / Gavrilov Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Andrei Gavrilov (piano) Catalog Num: Deutsche Grammophon 35439

	Chopin, Prokofiev, Wagner/Liszt : Pyotr Dmitriev Composer(s): Chopin, Prokofiev, Liszt Artist(s): Pyotr Dmitriev (piano) Catalog Num: Boheme (Russia) 906069 Release Date: September 26, 2000

	Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Sviatoslav Richter I Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev, Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, et al. Artist(s): Sviatoslav Richter Catalog Num: Philips 456946 Release Date: November 10, 1998

	Gyorgy Sandor Plays Prokofiev - Complete Piano Music Vol 1 Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Gyorgy Sandor (piano) Catalog Num: Vox Allegretto 3500 Release Date: June 2, 1993

	In Memory of Steven De Groote Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev, Ludwig van Beethoven Artist(s): Steven de Groote (piano) Catalog Num: Finlandia Records 577032 Release Date: February 13, 1996

	Laureate Series - Amir Tebenikhin - Piano Recital Composer(s): Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy, et al. Artist(s): Amir Tebenikhin (piano) Catalog Num: Naxos 8.554768 Release Date: February 13, 2001

	Oleg Marshev plays Sergei Prokofiev Vol 2 Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Oleg Marshev (piano) Catalog Num: Danacord 392 Release Date: May 1, 1993

	Prokofiev, Rachmaninov, Scriabin: Sonatas, etc / Sokolov Composer(s): Alexander Scriabin, Sergei Rachmaninov, et al. Artist(s): Grigory Sokolov (piano) Catalog Num: Opus 111 (Fra) 409104 Release Date: January 9, 1996

	Prokofiev, Scriabin, Shostakovich: Complete Piano Concertos Composer(s): Sergei Prokfoiev, Alexander Scriabin, Dmitri Shostakovich Artist(s): Murray McLachlan (piano), et al. Catalog Num: Brilliant Classics 6137 Release Date: 1997

	Prokofiev: Complete Music for Solo Piano. Violin Sonatas Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Frederic Chiu (piano), Pierre Amoyal (violin) Catalog Num: Harmonia Mundi HMX 2907301.10 Release Date: August 14, 2001

	Prokofiev: Complete Piano Music Vol 4 / Boris Berman Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Boris Berman (piano) Catalog Num: Chandos 8976 Release Date: August 6, 1991

	Prokofiev: Complete Piano Sonatas / Boris Berman Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Boris Berman (piano) Catalog Num: Chandos 9637 Release Date: July 21, 1998

	Prokofiev: Complete Piano Sonatas / Matti Raekallio Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Matti Raekallio (piano) Catalog Num: Ondine ODE 947-2 Release Date: 10/99

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	Prokofiev: Piano Concerto no 5, etc / Sviatoslav Richter Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Sviatoslav Richter (piano) Conductor: Witold Rowicki Orchestra/Ensemble: Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: Deutsche Grammophon 449744 Release Date: January 6, 1997

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	Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas 7 & 8, etc; Liszt / Ashkenazy Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev, Franz Liszt Artist(s): Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Catalog Num: London/Decca 468 497-2 Release Date: February 12, 2002

	Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas no 5, 7 & 8 / Andrei Nikolsky Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Andrei Nikolsky (piano) Catalog Num: Arte Nova Classics 27794 Release Date: August 26, 1997

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	Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas nos 6-8 / Kun Woo Paik Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Kun-Woo Paik (piano) Catalog Num: Dante 9126 Release Date: 5/1/92

	Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Nos. 3, 7 & 8 / Gavrilov Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Andrei Gavrilov (piano) Catalog Num: Deutsche Grammophon 459312 Release Date: April 1, 1999

	Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Nos. 6 & 8 Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): François-Frédéric Guy (piano) Catalog Num: Naïve (France) V4898 Release Date: March 12, 2002

	Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Vol 2 / Murray McLachlan Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Murray McLachlan (piano) Catalog Num: Olympia 256 Release Date: November 3, 1995

	Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Vol. 1 / Bernd Glemser Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Bernd Glemser (piano) Catalog Num: Naxos 8.553021 Release Date: December 6, 1994

	Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas, Vol 2: Barbara Nissman Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Barbara Nissman (piano) Catalog Num: Newport Classics NCD 60093 Release Date: 1989

	Prokofiev: Piano Works Volume III Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Frederic Chiu (piano) Catalog Num: Harmonia Mundi 907199 Release Date: January 10, 1997

	Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet, Sonata No 8 / Sergei Edelmann Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Sergei Edelmann (piano) Catalog Num: RCA Victor Red Seal 60848 Release Date: 1993

	Prokofiev: The Complete Works / Joyce Hatto Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Joyce Hatto (piano) Catalog Num: Concert Artists/Fidelio Recordings (UK) CACD 9121-2 Release Date: October 2005

	Prokofiev: The Piano Sonatas Vol. 3 / John Lill Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): John Lill (piano) Catalog Num: ASV CD DCA 755 Release Date: 1991

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	The Spirit of Russia: Emil Gilels Plays Prokofiev Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev, Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann Artist(s): Emil Gilels (piano) Catalog Num: Vox Box CDX 5122 Release Date: September 27, 1994

	Youri Egorov - Legacy 3 Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev, Dimitri Shostakovich, Arno Babadjanjan Artist(s): Youri Egorov (piano) Catalog Num: Canal Grande (Fr) CG 9215 Release Date: 1992

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