Prokofiev Sonatas: Giorgi Gigashvili

The evening

Driving energy and courage in the face of conflict: two monumental sonatas from Chopin and Prokofiev.

Of Chopin’s three piano sonatas, No 2 is the most well-known, mainly for its famous ‘Funeral March’ in the third movement. Within the context of this powerful and restless work, the melancholy march takes on an even greater poignancy.

Prokofiev’s Piano Sonata No 8 is the last of his three ‘war sonatas’ and was completed in 1944. It is the most thoughtful of the group with a long, introspective opening movement followed by a dream-like, sweet (yet sometimes sour) Adagietto. The finale, however, is fiery and more ‘warlike’. Alongside an enigmatic central passage, this movement is a blistering ride from start to finish.

The exceptional Georgian pianist Giorgi Gigashvili has a strong and personal affinity with Prokofiev’s music, recently recording the ‘war’ sonatas under the title ‘With All My Breath and All My Blood’.

Recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3.