The Sudden Impulse

In the 1950s these recordings would have given a very up-to-date impression, I imagine; the playing is extremely clean there's never a hint of sentimental violin slides or over-use of the sustaining pedal. But nearly half a century later, perhaps we're more conscious of the old-world virtues Schneiderhan's beautiful legato bowing and gentle vibrato, Kempff's full, unforced tone, and a flexible approach from both artists, with finely graded ritardandos and subtle variations of tempo.

The lyrical element is the essence of Prokofiev's nature, whether it be that of the man or of his music and it is deliberately that he chooses to turn it to derision, to make it grotesque, to disfigure it. Through all the distortions, dilations, sudden stops and about-faces that the composer subjects them to, his themes and harmonies remain essentially lyrical.