Sokolov recital in february

[Daevren]

Does anyone know what he is going to play? The program only lists: Chopin and Scriabin.

I have to pick between Freire, which I don't know and who has a nice program. But I might like Sokolovs program better, but maybe not.

Does he have a site? Or some other place that might have the info?

BTW, how does Freire compare to Sokolov?

Tnx for the info.

[m]

BTW, how does Freire compare to Sokolov?

Tnx for the info.

Freire has a beard, and Sokolov does not, but Sokolov is a bigger man, so they are even.

[Daevren]

Haha, what about their music?

[m]

Matter of taste.
I heard Sokolov many times live. In concert hall he sounds very different than in recordings. Every time I left his concert completely overwhelmed--may be nobody else ever gave me such a feeling live, and I heard some good pianists. He is a VERY serious musician, IMHO. I wouldn't even think twice as to which concert to go.
Don't take me wrong--I did not say that Freire is not good. If Sokolov did not play that very evening, then I'd go to Freire. But it is just... well... my opinion, and my taste.

BTW, where is the concert?

[Daevren]

Amsterdam.

I know Sokolovs recordings and I like them. So I will probably go see Sokolov. I just want to be sure he plays a Scriabin sonata. Because Freire plays one and I don't really like Scriabin's small works that much.

[bernhard]

Nelson Freire is a superb pianist. He shies away from publicity, and does not do the celebrity circuit, so he is not that well known by the public, but he is generally acknowledged as a  pianist’s pianist. Don’t miss him!

Here are some articles about him:

https://www.deccaclassics.com/artists/freire/biog.html

https://www.audiofonrecords.com/Freire/freire-bio.htm

Read interviews with him here:

https://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1310/is_1995_Sept/ai_17443718

https://justart.com/anv/96jan/art04.htm

And a few critical reviews:

https://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=1720

https://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/2003/Nov03/Schumann_Freire.htm

https://www.baltimoresymphony.org/publicrelations/recentreviews/view.asp?id=40000094

https://music.idoneos.com/index.php/306108/freire

If you decide to see him, tell us what you thought (same for Sokolov).

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[thracozaag]

  What a difficult choice! (especially if you haven't seen either live yet).  They're both fabulous, so you really can't go wrong here.

koji (STSD)

[cziffra777]

BTW, how does Freire compare to Sokolov?

I like both, but prefer Sokolov. IMO, he is the greatest living pianist.

[steinwaymodeld]

Solely by the live recoprding of the Op.25 chopin etude, I would go to Solokov. (Esepcially he is playing Chopin and Scriabin)

But F is a superb pianist too, but I have yet to listen to any of his live recording.

[julie391]

indeed, solokov's live op25 is incredible

havent heard much else from him though

[steinwaymodeld]

indeed, solokov's live op25 is incredible

havent heard much else from him though

I have several other works and a live Rach3 by him.

[m]

indeed, solokov's live op25 is incredible

havent heard much else from him though

I have several other works and a live Rach3 by him.

I heard him Rachmaninov 2 and 3 live. In a concert hall both of them were quite an EXPERIENCE, as any solo or piano with orchestra performances I ever heard him. I would love to have the recording of 3. Where can I find it?

[julie391]

what else does he play?

ill look into this guy

[steinwaymodeld]

I have several other works and a live Rach3 by him.

I heard him Rachmaninov 2 and 3 live. In a concert hall both of them were quite an EXPERIENCE, as any solo or piano with orchestra performances I ever heard him. I would love to have the recording of 3. Where can I find it?

i can send it to u thru messenger if u want to.

[m]

I heard him Rachmaninov 2 and 3 live. In a concert hall both of them were quite an EXPERIENCE, as any solo or piano with orchestra performances I ever heard him. I would love to have the recording of 3. Where can I find it?


i can send it to u thru messenger if u want to.

I'd love to! What is a messenger, though, and how it works?

Thanks!

[steinwaymodeld]

I'd love to! What is a messenger, though, and how it works?

Thanks!

Em...
I will upload it to my private server, I will PM you the link tommoraw.
I need to go to bed now....

[tph]

Em...
I will upload it to my private server, I will PM you the link tommoraw.
I need to go to bed now....

Any chance the rest of us can get access too?   

tph

[steinwaymodeld]

tph, Marik, I sent u the link of the rach3 in the PM box.

Go check it.

[cziffra777]

what else does he play?

He has an extremely diverse repertoire. He plays music by Byrd, Couperin, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin,  Schubert, Brahms, Froberger, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Haydn, Ravel, Rameau, and more. I know he plays music by some living composers too.

[Daevren]

Update:

I went to both. First I was dissapointed both threw out all Scriabin out of their programs.  Freire played Schumann Chopin and Villa-Lobos while Sokolov played Chopin and a Schubert Sonata.

I have got to say I was a little dissapointed with the Freire performance. Firstly, to my suprise I didn't like the Schumann he played. I do not know much Schumann, but the pieces seemed immature and unstructured. And I could not find the beautiful melodies I heard some people talk about. Then the Chopin, he was supposed to play three of his etudes, he played two. The technique on revolutionary wasn't really flawless. Left hand was a bit weak and both hands were not in synchronisation. Of course its a hard piece. I don't think he was well prepared. Then he played Villa Lobos, which was a really refreshing after all the 'harsh pointless Schumann noodling'. I am sure Freire's interpretation of the Schumann was good, but I did not know the pieces. So its hard to comment on it.

Then Sokolov, he threw out Scriabin and dared to add Chopins Fantasy-Impromptu. From the Schubert sonata I expected a low quality Schumann piece, ignore my ignorance please, but that is what I though when I entered the concert hall I was actually suprised. The music was far from perfect, but I think Schubert wanted it to be that way. The music sounded daring, well structured and had a bit of a hard edge to it. While listening I had several smiles and several 'question mark' moments(yes, I question the composer). But how Sokolov played it, perfect, lovely.

Sokolov's interpretation of the fantasy-Impromptu made it bearable. Then five lovely Chopin pieces. I was just sitting there, eyes closed, bend over, massaging my fore head(yes, you should try it). Then he played two shorter pieces because the audience wouldn't stop clapping, poor old man.

It was just a lovely experience. Filled in a huge room with sound. I felt so good. Maybe it was because I saw both of my best friends that day(one was sitting next to me, the other provided me with dinner and a bed that day).  Maybe I was just feeling better that day, so I could get more in touch with the music and thus enjoy it alot more. Anyway, the chopin was alot better than the Schubert, which was certainly very enjoyable.

Or maybe Sokolov is just alot better than Freire.

Of course this is just a one evening observation. This is how I experienced both concerts.

So if you can see Sokolov play Chopin, go see it!