Prokofiev Fifth Sonata

I resisted this lovely work for a long time, finding it dissonant and confusing. Sitting down to play it changed my mind, as it often does. I have questions, though. Kalmus publishes the so-called Op. 38/135 edition, and that's what I have. I'm confused about how much of it is Op. 38, and how much is Op. 135. How thoroughly did Prokofiev rework it in the second version? I'm particularly interested in the differences in the first-movement development section. What's different, and is either one more effective in performance than the other? Finally, what recordings are recommended?

Texture is more spare overall in the revision; piano writing not as 'thick.' Fizzle-out conclusion replaced by triumphant cadential passage. Equally piquant harmonies in revision. Both versions have their merits. Boris Berman's performances on Chandos are fine IMO.

Prokofiev's projected next opus, 136, was to be a revision of the 2nd symphopny. What would that have been like??

Ekaterina Novitskaya in the Russian Piano School.

novitskaya belgian

Novitskaya Russian

A little too square and 'loud' for my taste, but successful nonetheless (in particular her Sarcasms Op.17).>

I don't know about square - she can be quite capricious in that Pletnev/Igumnov kind of way - particularly in the Sarcasms which have many more ralls and tempo changes than the composer's versions. She is pretty positive as you say - not Yudina but not pretty in pink. I rather like her Visions myself.