Prokofiev Violin Sonata No. 1 in f minor, Op. 80 (Mintz, Bronfman)

Cast in four movements of approximately equal length and lasting about a half-hour, this tormented Sonata for violin and piano is among Prokofiev’s finest works. The Andante opening panel begins with an ominous theme in the bass on the piano accompanied with death-rattle sounds of the violin. The mood remains tense as the violin struggles to steal center stage from the piano, finally doing so with a theme that cries out painfully. Eventually the music turns ethereal when the piano gently plays the opening t