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Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano in D Major, Op. 94a (1942–43) Sergei Prokofiev (Born April 23, 1891, in Sontzovka, Russia; died March 5, 1953, in Moscow) Prokofiev conceived a special fondness for the flute during his stay in the 1920s in the United States, where he encountered what he called the “heavenly sound” of the French virtuoso Georges Barrère, solo flutist of the New York Symphony Orchestra and teacher at Juilliard. Two decades later, during some of the darkest days of World War II in the Soviet Union, Prokofiev turned to the flute as the inspiration for one of his most halcyon compositions. The Sonata for Flute and Piano in D major, his only such work for a wind instrument, was begun in September 1942 in Alma-Ata, where he and many other Russian artists had been evacuated as a precaution against the invading German armies. Indeed, the city served as an important movie production site for the country at that time, and Prokofiev worked there with director Sergei Eisenstein on their adaptation of the tale of Ivan the Terrible as a successor to their brilliant Alexander Nevsky of 1938. It was as something of a diversion from the rigors and subject matter of Ivan that Prokofiev undertook the Flute Sonata, telling his fellow composer Nikolai Miaskovsky that creating such a cheerful, abstract work during the uncertainties of war was “perhaps inappropriate at the moment, but pleasurable.” Early in 1943, Prokofiev moved to Perm in the Urals, and it was in the relative calm of that city that the Sonata was completed during the summer. When the work was premiered in Moscow on December 7, 1943, by flutist Nikolai Kharkovsky and pianist Sviatoslav Richter, it drew as much attention from violinists as flutists, and David Oistrakh persuaded the composer to make an adaptation for violin, which that master string player and Lev Oborin introduced on June 17, 1944, as the Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 94a. The D major Sonata has since come to be regarded equally as the province of wind and string recitalists. Each of the Sonata’s four movements is erected upon a Classical formal model. The main theme of the opening sonata-form Andantino is almost wistful in the simplicity with which it outlines the principal tonality of the work. A transition of greater animation leads to the subsidiary subject, whose wide range and dotted rhythms do not inhibit its lyricism. In typical Classical fashion, the exposition is marked to be repeated. The development elaborates both of the themes and adds to them a quick triplet figure played by the violin to begin the section. A full recapitulation, with appropriately adjusted keys, rounds out the movement. The second movement is a brilliantly virtuosic scherzo whose strongly contrasting trio is a lyrical strain in duple meter. The Andante follows a three-part form (A–B–A), with a skittering central section providing formal balance for the lovely song of the outer paragraphs. The finale is a joyous rondo based on the dancing melody given by the violin in the opening measures. —Dr. Richard E. Rodda 40 | Mondavi Center Presents Program issue 3: nov 2012 Joshua Bell (violin), often referred to as the “poet of the violin,” is one of the world’s most celebrated violinists. His stunning virtuosity, beautiful tone and charismatic stage presence have brought him universal acclaim. Among numerous awards and honors, Bell is an Avery Fisher Prize recipient and Musical America’s 2010 Instrumentalist of the Year. Recently appointed Music Director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, he is the first person to hold this title since Sir Neville Marriner formed the orchestra in 1958. Summer of 2012 highlights include the premiere of Edgar Meyer’s new concerto for violin and double bass, which they perform at Tanglewood, Aspen and the Hollywood Bowl. Summer appearances include the Festival del Sole, Ravinia, Verbier, Salzburg, Saratoga and Mostly Mozart festivals. Bell launches the San Francisco Symphony’s fall season followed by orchestral performances in Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle, Cincinnati and Detroit. Additional fall highlights include a South African tour, an European tour with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and a recital tour with pianist Sam Haywood. In 2013, Bell tours the U.S. with the Cleveland Orchestra, Europe with the New York Philharmonic and performs with the Tucson, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Nashville symphony orchestras. An exclusive Sony Classical artist, Bell has recorded more than 40 CDs garnering Mercury, Grammy, Gramophone and Echo Klassik awards. Recent releases include French Impressions with pianist Jeremy Denk, the eclectic At Home With Friends, the Defiance soundtrack, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic. His discography encompasses critically acclaimed performances of most of the major violin repertoire in addition to John Corigliano’s Oscar-winning soundtrack, The Red Violin. Born in Bloomington, Indiana, Bell received his first violin at age four and at 12 began studying with revered violinist Josef Gingold at Indiana University. Two years later, Bell came to national attention in his debut with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra and, at age 17, made his Carnegie Hall debut. Bell’s extensive career has now spanned more than 30 years as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist and conductor. Joshua Bell performs on the 1713 Huberman Stradivarius. Bell records exclusively for Sony Classical—a MASTERWORKS Label. www.joshuabell.com Bell appears by arrangement with IMG Artists, LLC Carnegie Hall Tower 152 West 57th Street, 5th Floor New York, NY 10019 www.imgartists.com Bell will personally autograph programs and recordings in the lobby following the performance.
sam haywood (piano), a British pianist, has performed to critical acclaim all over the world. Alongside his busy solo and chamber music career, he is also a composer, transcriber and artistic director of the Solent Music Festival (www.solentmusicfestival.com). Haywood is a regular duo partner to violinist Joshua Bell, with whom he has toured in the U.S., Canada, China, South America and throughout Europe. They have performed for the Vice Presidents of the U.S. and China. He also regularly appears with cellist Steven Isserlis and will be recording a CD of piano works by Julius Isserlis, Steven’s grandfather, for Hyperion. Haywood’s latest CD, Composers in Love, features a selection of works inspired by the objects of composers’ desires. Chopin has been a central theme throughout Haywood’s musical life. To celebrate the composer’s bicentennial year he made the world premiere recording on Chopin’s own Pleyel piano of 1846. It has since been broadcast numerous times on BBC Radio 3. He used the same instrument to perform with Steven Isserlis at Lancaster House in the presence of HRH Princess Alexandra where Chopin performed on the exact date in front of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1848. Haywood has also given private performances of Chopin for Princess Diana and more recently a Chopin seminar for TED. Following his early success in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, the Royal Philharmonic Society awarded him its prestigious Isserlis award. Haywood studied with Paul Badura-Skoda in Vienna, where he began his enduring passion for opera. At the Royal Academy of Music in London he was mentored by Maria Curcio, the renowned teacher and pupil of Artur Schnabel. Outside the musical world he is passionate about nature, food, magic, literature and technology. Haywood appears by arrangement with Ten Sixty Six Artist Management Flat 20, Cranford Lodge 80 Victoria Drive London, SW19 6HH, U.K. For more information on Haywood, please visit www.samhaywood.com Anderson FAmily CAtering & BBQ Our name has become synonymous with great food, service and attention to detail. Contact us today at andersonfamilycatering.com for a quote. MondaviArts.org | 41
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