piquant lyricism

In other news. Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63.
.
At some point i think maybe about 10 years ago, i started getting tired of lush Romantic melodies a la Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, et al. They all seemed rather jelat, too sticky-sweet and sentimental. i think that's when i turned to Bach for his clean, elegant clarity -- like a glacial lake lucid and cold and yet somehow achingly beautiful.
.
But sometimes one does miss lush melody. Which probably explains why i'm finding Prokofiev's 2nd violin concerto so compelling. Because it's got lush melody (in a singing violin voice, no less!), but with just enough piquant, spicy harmonic surprise to be eminently listenable without crossing over into kitsch.
.
Classical music post-19th-century takes some getting used to, i think. But i suspect there comes a time in most music-lovers' lives when they feel the need to take in, to welcome, those jarring dissonances, if not for anything else, then at least for the sense of newness and surprise that they bring, the way an unexpected chord or note can jolt you awake and cast a different tone on your day.
.
i'm sure some essayist somewhere must have written something along these lines before.
.
.