There are two sides to Pletnev"s character: the wayward virtuoso pianist, and the stiff, metronomic conductor. As a pianist Pletnev is fascinating; as a conductor, boring (at least usually). The reason for this dichotomy is simple: he hasn"t a clue how to make an orchestra do what his fingers accomplish so effortlessly at the keyboard. Take the music of Prokofiev: he has recorded the ballet Cinderella, a performance of no particular distinction. But these sonatas are another matter entirely. Brilliant, rhapsodic, exciting, and powerful, Pletnev turns in magnificent performances, ones that stand comparison (in the 7th and 8th sonatas) with Richter, Pollini--you name it. It doesn"t get any better. And as great Prokofiev sonata discs aren"t exactly thick and furious in the current catalogue, this disc is a mandatory acquisition. --David Hurwitz