Myaskovsky: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2

Myaskovsky’s two cello sonatas are woefully neglected works and deserve far wider circulation – romantic and passionate they make a worthy alternative to Rachmaninov’s famous sonata. Coming from the early and late years of the composer’s life, the 2nd sonata was written for Rostropovitch, who championed it and ensured all his pupils studied and learned it. Prokofiev’s Ballade op.15 is an expansive work from his early years and like the Myaskovsky sonatas rarely heard. Pavel Gomziakov and Andrei Korobeinikov are persuasive advocates for these delightful works.