This is the second disc from the new Black Box label to come my way. The first, an enterprising issue of music by the Irish composer Frank Corcoran (3/00), was a thoroughly commendable release in all respects, and the same high standards and quality performances are found here, in this issue of Prokofiev's complete works for solo cello.
The Ballade, Op 15 started life in 1902 as an unpublished violin sonata, but was reworked some 10 years later into this free-form sonata-rondo. Raphael Wallfisch's reading is gripping and suitably heroic and dark-hued in stature. It's a shame that the Cinq melodies, Op 35 rarely receive performances as originally intended, for wordless voice, but we do get to hear them now and again in Prokofiev's adaptation for violin and piano. Wallfisch's own adaptations of these haunting pieces are perhaps an even more preferable alternative, as he coaxes some beautifully full-throated and lyrical readings from the instrument.
There is certainly no shortage of fine recordings of Prokofiev's Cello Sonata in the current catalogue, but Wallfisch's distinguished and superbly characterised account can certainly stand with the best. As far as I know, however, no other recordings exist of the only surviving movement of the Solo Cello Sonata dating from the last year of Prokofiev's life. The single movement, completed from surviving material by Vladimir Blok, gives us a fascinating and tantalising glimpse into what might have been.
The disc is neatly rounded-off with three pieces from Prokofiev's stage works: two in arrangements by Piatigorsky and one, the March from The Love for Three Oranges, by Prokofiev himself. If you are looking for a comprehensive survey of Prokofiev's music for solo cello, look no further.'