When Sergei Prokofiev wrote music, he wasn’t writing his memoir in notes on the score. Music, he felt, served a higher purpose than just capturing one artist’s emotions at one point in time. But Prokofiev’s Piano Sonata No. 7 is a bit different. He finished this piece at a critical moment in 1942, not long after he had been evacuated from Moscow to Tbilisi following Hitler’s invasion of Russia. You can guess what was on Prokofiev’s mind from his tempo markings in the score: “tumultuous, marching, fast… grieving.” Pianist Ying Li will bring this sonata to life in this episode of Arizona Encore. She performed the piece as part of the Hayden Chamber Music Series at the Tempe Center for the Arts. We’ll also hear two more outstanding performances from the series, one from violinists and brothers Nikki and Timothy Chooi and one by the up-an-coming Arod Quartet.
Featured in this episode:
Prokofiev – Piano Sonata No. 7 in B-flat Major, Op. 83 – Ying Li, piano
- I. Allegro inquieto
- II. Andante caloroso
- III. Precipitato
Prokofiev – Sonata in C Major for 2 Violins, Op. 56 – Nikki Chooi, violin; Timothy Chooi, violin
- I. Andante cantabile
Ravel – String Quartet in F Major – The Arod Quartet
- I. Allegro moderato – Très doux
- II. Assez vif – Très rythmé
- III. Très lent
- IV. Vif et agité
