The new recording Prokofiev: Sonatas for Flute and Piano, featuring flutist Ariane Brisson and pianist Philip Chiu, highlights both the similarities and contrasts between two major works by Sergei Prokofiev. These are the Sonata for Flute and Piano in D Major, Op. 94 and the Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 80. Both were composed during World War II and reflect, each in its own way, that tragic chapter of human history—one whose echoes, sadly, are still felt today.
“Prokofiev’s Sonata in D Major, Op. 94, is one of the most beloved works for flute,” says Ariane Brisson. “And with good reason. Its rich and nuanced writing makes it a masterpiece of the repertoire. Its scope and virtuosity are remarkable. The Sonata No. 1, transcribed for flute, is very different. It’s far more complex, both harmonically and structurally.”
