Sonata-Idyll, Op. 56

The Sonata-Idyll is one of Medtner's last piano sonatas and perhaps his most serene. Written during his years in Western Europe after exile from Russia, it stands in marked contrast to the turbulence of works such as the Sonata tragica and Sonata minacciosa. Instead of conflict and drama, Op. 56 embodies contemplation, warmth, and reconciliation with nature.