Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Nos. 7 & 8

Amazon.com This disc poses a bit of a quandary. Yefim Bronfman’s playing of the Seventh Sonata is so exciting that it’s impossible not to recommend. Even as he is powering his way through the most difficult sections of the music (including the entire finale), Bronfman still plays with control and the kind of nuance few pianists could spare attention for. On the other hand, I don’t feel he is as successful with the Eighth Sonata. Its enigmatic, mysterious first movement is always a problem, and I don’t feel Bronfman completely succeeds in projecting its changes of mood. The other two movements are more convincing, but then the disc is over (47:42). But if you love that Seventh Sonata as I do. –Leslie Gerber