who wants to rank the prokofiev sonatas?!!

[Tash]

are any of them significantly easier/harder than others? and how much more significantly difficult are they compared to chopin's berceuse or beethoven's sonata op27 no1 (just random suggestions since i'm playing them)? thanks heaps!

[steinwayguy]

No. 8 is the most complex. I doubt it's the hardest "technically" though.

[iumonito]

The easiest Prokofiev sonata (No. 1) is much harder than Berceuse or 27.1.

Easiest to hardest, I would rank them like this (I don't played them all, so beware):

1
4
3
5 (the second version, I have never heard the original)
9
2
7
8
6

The War sonatas (6, 7 and are basically at the same level of difficulty and are among the hardest in the standard repertoire. 

If you are thinking of takling one of Prokofiev 9 sonatas (only a fragment of number 10 exists), I would suggest reading through Visions Fugitives and choosing a few to work on first, perhaps along with the Op. 11 Toccata.  Number 3 is the usual entry point for the sonatas, as it has all the style elements, is very effective and is relatively short.

Good luck.

[raymagini]

i agree, the  sonata is one of the best