Prokofiev - Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94a

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94a Composed in 1943-1944; premiered in 1944 in Moscow Performed by Itzhak Perlman (b. 1945), violin, and Vladimir Ashkenazy (b. 1937), piano Recorded July 1969 at Webster Hall, New York City 0:00 I. Moderato 8:01 II. Scherzo: Presto 12:45 III. Andante 16:24 IV. Allegro con brio Prokofiev's Violin Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 94a, originated as his Flute Sonata in D major, Op. 94, which he completed in the summer of 1943 while staying in Perm in the Ural Mountains during World War II. Following the flute version's Moscow premiere in December 1943, violinist David Oistrakh (1908-1974) urged Prokofiev to adapt the piece for the violin due to its sweeping quality, collaborating closely with the composer on the transcription. The resulting violin sonata premiered on June 17, 1944, performed by David Oistrakh and pianist Lev Oborin (1907-1974), and while it retained the four-movement, classical-leaning design of the original score, it quickly eclipsed the flute version to become a staple of the twentieth-century violin repertoire.