Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Who is Grigory Sokolov?

We are so excited to have tickets (again!) for Grigory Sokolov's piano concert this coming Sunday.

I thought he was on the global master pianist circuit and didn't realize that he was not consistently well known around the world.

There just appeared on him an article in the New York Times which may interest others.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/arts/music/17grig.html?

there's a lot of his videos on youtube. so, it means that he's well known, although i never saw him in concerts.

He is quite magnificient - old school Russian pianist. I had the pleasure hearing him play an exclusive Scriabin programm last year here in Munich.

I bought the DVD of his performance in Paris in 2002. He plays three Beethoven sonatas, a sonata by Prokofiev, some pieces by Komitas, and several encores (Chopin, Couperin, Bach). Worth every dime, I've listened to various parts of it several times and I love the close-ups of his hands at the keyboard.

I am learning the second movement of Beethoven's Pastoral and I can tell you, I've watched him playing that movemet on the DVD at least 20 times already. Every time I find some new nuance in his playing. He is phenomenal. I hope I get to hear him live someday.

He's one of the greats.He just shuns publicity for some reason.Enjoy.

He is one of the greats today IMO.

A few years ago I saw him perform the Rach III w/the Detroit Symphony under Neme Jarvi....amazing.

I understand that he is quite the piano technician as well.....He is very particular about his pianos and often does his own tech and tuning...

I also own the DVD from 2002...the performances are marvelous......his interpretations are tasteful and respctful (to the music)....never banging or heavy handed, though he has a magnificent technique!
Mat D.

This is Sokolov:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMKDWysmHwA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=016M-8klxGI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v0w5edJRHo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkOBS8IkyT8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbnoQDD0S-A&feature=related

A superlative live rendering of the Sonata 15, Opus 28.
I believe this artist knows Beethoven better than Beethoven knew himself.
My Kingdom for those marvelous, crystal-clear staccati!
My Universe for those perfect tempi!