VISSARION SHEBALIN (1902–63) - Cello Sonata Op. 51 No. 3 (World premiere recording) : DMITRY KABALEVSKY (1904-87) - Cello Sonata, Op. 71: SERGEI PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) - Cello Concertino, Op. 132 Marina Tarasova cello, Ivan Sokolov piano

Description: Renowned Russian cellist Marina Tarasova makes her debut on Challenge Classics. Her disc is centred on two great Sonatas: Kabalevsky’s (composed in 1962) and Shebalin’s (composed in 1960). In between, Prokofiev’s Concertino works as a lyrical intermezzo. Kabalevsky’s Sonata is probably the most beautiful Russian 20th Century work for cello and piano. Shebalin’s Sonata is a world premiere recording and a work of remarkable architectural complexity. In such repertoire few living cellists can compete with Tarasova’s textual and spiritual insight.