Word: sonata
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Prokofleff: Sonata No. 7, Opus 83 (DM 1042). This second of Prokofleff's three "War" Sonatas was only completed in 1942, and shows its composer at the peak of his skill as a piano writer. The grotesquely dramatic changes in mood and tempo certainly do not make for particularly pleasant listening but they reveal a highly ingenious and original style of composition. Vladimir Horowitz, who has introduced all of the "War" Sonatas in this country, does a fine job on music that is highly suited to his style of playing. The recording is good...
...substituting harpsichord for piano, Victor has produced a version (DM-1035) of J. S. Bach's Third Sonata for violin and clavier in E flat more faithful to the Seventeenth Century style than the recording cut several years ago by Yehudi Menuhin and his sister Hepzibah. Although the harpsichord part may be slightly less important than the violin, the precision and vigor commanded by Wanda Landowska provide a better accompaniment for Menuhin than the carefully uninspired piano performance by his sister...
...Seventh Veil is handsomely photographed, elegantly produced and acted with full romantic flourishes. It is a typical exhibit in Britain's current campaign to beat Hollywood at its own game (see above). The music includes the Grieg Concerto in A Minor, the Mozart Sonata in C Major and something called the Seventh Veil Waltz. Ghost Pianist Eileen Joyce and the London Symphony Orchestra perform superbly. But British moviemakers have learned more than expert photography from Hollywood: cinemaddicts will not be very much surprised to see at the end that Francesca's heart has really been yearning for True...
Beethoven: Sonata in F Minor "Ap-passionata" (Artur Rubinstein; Victor, $ sides) and Concerto No. 3 in C Minor (Artur Rubinstein and the NBC Symphony, Arturo Toscanini conducting; Victor, 8 sides). Chopinist Rubinstein takes on Beethoven. Concerto No. 3, recorded at a radio broadcast, has some technical limitations but few musical ones. Performance of both: excellent...
Ruth Posselt, in the Sonata opus 108, flung herself into the music (endangering the limbs of the 30 people sitting on the stage), turned the first movement conflict into one hell of a brawl, handied rhythmical complexities with fine spirit, and, despite an occasional aggravating tremolo and an E string that was always about to roll over and die, gave a satisfying and exciting performance of the piece...