Prokofiev’s late Cello Sonata is inextricably linked with the name Mstislav Rostropovich. The then twenty-year-old cellist delighted the composer to such an extent during a performance in Moscow in 1947 that he spontaneously promised him a work tailored to his capabilities. In June 1949, they jointly put the finishing touches on the technically very demanding duo sonata. It was played for the first time that same month before the State Committee for Art Affairs. For the printed version, a breakn...