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.