One of the brightest composers/pianists of his time, Prokofiev reflected in his piano concertos the most recognizable features of his artistic individuality like in a mirror. Having resolutely deserted the romantic tradition of the concerto genre, he created a new type of it. The motive toccata style, a splendid technique of scales and passages – all combined with fragile lyricism; sharp grotesque contrasts – and a sunny emotion of life-asserting; a crystal clear form and pattern – and sudden twists of the musical “plot”… This is what a figurative world of these works appears to be, with each of them being an individual realization of the genre and never continuing the line of the previous one.

People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Krainev is among the best interpreters of domestic music of the 20th century. While a student of the Moscow Conservatory, he became a world-famous pianist after his victories at the international competitions in Leeds and Lisbon. In 1970, he won first prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition.

Apart from his flawless technical skills and rich sound palette, Vladimir Krainev was notable for a bright temperament which often roused the artist to do bold and even risky interpretations (one of the Austrian newspapers dubbed him “a tiger of keys on the arena”). That is probably why Prokofiev’s music was so dear to Krainev, who always had the composer’s concertos, sonatas and numerous piano pieces in his repertoire.