Piano Sonata No. 3 (Prokofiev)

"The one-movement Third Sonata is the shortest of Prokofiev’s sonatas. It is also the most carefully crafted of all his early works in this genre. Originating in an early sonata of his conservatory years (also no. 3), it must have been seriously reworked to arrive at its final shape. It possesses a remarkable energy that propels the work from beginning to end. The piece’s general tone reflects a much more Romantic spirit than other works written by Prokofiev in this period. Sarcastic or ironic imagery, so conspicuous in many of his early compositions, is not part of this sonata’s expressive vocabulary."

"It was [Piotr Petrovich [Pierre]] Souvchinsky who once recommended me to begin all my concerts with it."