Grigory Solokov

[SDL]

I bought his DVD at the weekend.  Performs live at the Theatre de champs elysee Beethoven Op 14 no 1&2, & Pastoral sonatas, Komitas dances, Prokofiev sonata 7 and 4!! encores.

He is up there with my best artists ever ( with Maria Jao Pires).  Ive never seen such control and perfection and range of sound as I have as this - even my friend who knows nothing about piano said (unprompted) he makes the piano sing - I was glued to the screen!

Forget your flashy pianists listen and learn from an true artist!  Pires also has one of the greatest sounds and singing tone Ive heard.  Speed does nothing for me.  Sound and artistry is everything!

[Cadenza_Ad_Libitum]

How about his Hammerklavier sonata? Give your comments.... I have it but is unable to decide whether I like it or not (it's the only recording i have).

[SDL]

Im afraid Ive not heard his hammerklavier.  Why are you uncertain?

[Cadenza_Ad_Libitum]

It's the only version I have, and the only piece the pianist is playing is this one. The depth of the piece is beyond my interpretation ability I think, it's not really an easy piece to listen to.

[lenny]

I bought his DVD at the weekend.  Performs live at the Theatre de champs elysee Beethoven Op 14 no 1&2, & Pastoral sonatas, Komitas dances, Prokofiev sonata 7 and 4!! encores.

He is up there with my best artists ever ( with Maria Jao Pires).  Ive never seen such control and perfection and range of sound as I have as this - even my friend who knows nothing about piano said (unprompted) he makes the piano sing - I was glued to the screen!

Forget your flashy pianists listen and learn from an true artist!  Pires also has one of the greatest sounds and singing tone Ive heard.  Speed does nothing for me.  Sound and artistry is everything!

which flashy pianists are you refering to?

from what recordings i have by sokolov - his rach3 and op25 chopin etudes - he is a true master

[SDL]

which flashy pianists are you refering to?


I get sick of musicality sacrificed for speed and the "macho" audiences  being so impressed by it as if thats what makes it god-like!

I have heard Martha Argerich play things way too fast (although her Tchaikovsy P.Concerto is the best Ive heard), Im not impressed with pure technicians (hamelin and volodos are exceptions), but Im mainly talking about child prodigies Ive heard making their way up but falling at hurdles because of their lack of artistry.   I hate Jeno Jando who does everything and nothing particularly well - hes all over the naxos recordings! Gavrilov is another!

[sidoze]

Sokolov is far and away the greatest pianist alive, and I hardly consider this a subjective opinion. It hardly matters what you sample him in, you'll hear what I mean. From the Rach 3 (Stockholm is preferable) to the op. 25 Chopin etudes, through to Bach's partita 4 and 6, Petroushka, Tempest sonata, op. 111, WTC, Chopin nocturnes, and whatever else, he's unique. To really experience him though you must see him live--or as a second best what the phenomenal DVD SDL mentioned.

To the lucky person who has his Hammerklavier, you're in possession of one of the finest performances of that work. No one in my experience has clarified the final fugue so marvelously.

[lenny]

which flashy pianists are you refering to?


I get sick of musicality sacrificed for speed and the "macho" audiences  being so impressed by it as if thats what makes it god-like!

I have heard Martha Argerich play things way too fast (although her Tchaikovsy P.Concerto is the best Ive heard), Im not impressed with pure technicians (hamelin and volodos are exceptions), but Im mainly talking about child prodigies Ive heard making their way up but falling at hurdles because of their lack of artistry.   I hate Jeno Jando who does everything and nothing particularly well - hes all over the naxos recordings! Gavrilov is another!

i completely disagree with gavrilov, and jando is occasionally excellent - his liszt etudes are amazing.

gavrilov is one of the greatest pianists of the last 50 years!

the fact that he often plays fast does not inherently mean he lacks musicality - it just means he likes fast tempos and you dont possibly?

[SDL]

Erm.. I do like tempo (Marc Andre Hamelin for example) but not for the sake of ego or for "I need to do another recording to pay the bills!" complacency.   It has to have a musical meaning.  Jeno Jando is boring musically ( I have some Liszt - legend no.2 and others and heard just about everything hes done on naxos website although I could never hear all the way through before getting REALLY bored.  There was one thing he did I liked but obviously its not very memorable because I cant remember what it was!).  But I can see we are not going to agree. 

[chromatickler]

gavrilov is one of the greatest pianists of the last 50 years!

the fact that he often plays fast does not inherently mean he lacks musicality

i feckin concur! 

[Alde]

I heard Sokolov live over 10 years ago at the University of Michigan.  He was a last minute replacement for Pollini who could not perform.  Of course we were all disappointed.  We were expecting Pollini!!!
We that in mind we sat through the Sokolov recital.  I remember he performed the Haydn Sonata in C Major, the Liszt Sonata and then the Schumann Fantasy.  A good performance, but certainly not Pollini.
I did however remember the encore.  He tossed off the Chopin Etude Op.10 No.1.  This was the fastest performance of this etude I have ever heard to this day.
It is sad to say that I only remember the encore.

[steinwaymodeld]

I heard Sokolov live over 10 years ago at the University of Michigan.  He was a last minute replacement for Pollini who could not perform.  Of course we were all disappointed.  We were expecting Pollini!!!
We that in mind we sat through the Sokolov recital.  I remember he performed the Haydn Sonata in C Major, the Liszt Sonata and then the Schumann Fantasy.  A good performance, but certainly not Pollini.
I did however remember the encore.  He tossed off the Chopin Etude Op.10 No.1.  This was the fastest performance of this etude I have ever heard to this day.
It is sad to say that I only remember the encore.

I would pick Sokolov over Pollini any day in the year

[lenny]

Erm.. I do like tempo (Marc Andre Hamelin for example) but not for the sake of ego or for "I need to do another recording to pay the bills!" complacency.   It has to have a musical meaning.  Jeno Jando is boring musically ( I have some Liszt - legend no.2 and others and heard just about everything hes done on naxos website although I could never hear all the way through before getting REALLY bored.  There was one thing he did I liked but obviously its not very memorable because I cant remember what it was!).  But I can see we are not going to agree. 

liszted to jando's liszt etudes - great readings IMO

and i not only disagree, but am offended at the accusation toward gavrilov

[steinwaymodeld]

which flashy pianists are you refering to?


I get sick of musicality sacrificed for speed and the "macho" audiences  being so impressed by it as if thats what makes it god-like!

I have heard Martha Argerich play things way too fast (although her Tchaikovsy P.Concerto is the best Ive heard), Im not impressed with pure technicians (hamelin and volodos are exceptions), but Im mainly talking about child prodigies Ive heard making their way up but falling at hurdles because of their lack of artistry.   I hate Jeno Jando who does everything and nothing particularly well - hes all over the naxos recordings! Gavrilov is another!

Yea, Gavrilov is really bad...
And we should all praise Brendel right?

 

[lenny]

gavrilov actually is bad now compared to what he was 

[steinwaymodeld]

gavrilov actually is bad now compared to what he was 

Yep!

He was addicted to drugs...

[krittyot]

which flashy pianists are you refering to?
 I hate Jeno Jando who does everything and nothing particularly well - hes all over the naxos recordings! Gavrilov is another!

Gavrilov is a great pianist.

The only bad thing about him IMO is that you don't like him.

This is called "prejudice".

[steinwaymodeld]

Gavrilov is a great pianist.

The only bad thing about him IMO is that you don't like him.

This is called "prejudice".

Na, I think it's a good thing he doesn't like him....
I don't want such good music goes to sewage anyway.

[lenny]

Gavrilov is a great pianist.

The only bad thing about him IMO is that you don't like him.

This is called "prejudice".

well its whats know as 'personal taste', BUT when he attacks gavrilov's musical intentions and seriousness it gets ugly.

but i guess he actually isnt that serious a guy if he does drugs, but he undoubtedly has a great passion for music, it comes over when i hear him speak about music.

[steinwaymodeld]

well its whats know as 'personal taste', BUT when he attacks gavrilov's musical intentions and seriousness it gets ugly.

but i guess he actually isnt that serious a guy if he does drugs, but he undoubtedly has a great passion for music, it comes over when i hear him speak about music.

Well, he was young, and he took risks and he lost.
He is clean now.

I almost cried when i listened to him play Bach on the BBC DVD.

[ionutz]

To the lucky person who has his Hammerklavier, you're in possession of one of the finest performances of that work. No one in my experience has clarified the final fugue so marvelously.

I'm not arguing with you but did you hear Gilels version. I find that to be one of the best Hammerklavier's.

[lenny]

Well, he was young, and he took risks and he lost.
He is clean now.

I almost cried when i listened to him play Bach on the BBC DVD.

why?

it was that moving?

i own that DVD, which parts moved you?

[steinwaymodeld]

I'm not arguing with you but did you hear Gilels version. I find that to be one of the best Hammerklavier's.

Along with Gilels, try Serkin, and Ernst Levy, also Mei Ting is awesome too.

[steinwaymodeld]

why?

it was that moving?

i own that DVD, which parts moved you?

Don't u think so? The C minor ones are my favorite.

[lenny]

yes it was really good, his c maj prelude is great.

i just laughed at his c minor though, he just looked too funny.

[sidoze]

I heard Sokolov live over 10 years ago at the University of Michigan.  He was a last minute replacement for Pollini who could not perform.  Of course we were all disappointed.  We were expecting Pollini!!!
We that in mind we sat through the Sokolov recital.  I remember he performed the Haydn Sonata in C Major, the Liszt Sonata and then the Schumann Fantasy.  A good performance, but certainly not Pollini.
I did however remember the encore.  He tossed off the Chopin Etude Op.10 No.1.  This was the fastest performance of this etude I have ever heard to this day.
It is sad to say that I only remember the encore.

sorry but you must be confused. Sokolov does not play Liszt because he does not like him, and as far as I know he has never performed the Schumann Fantaisie. Haydn did not enter his repertoire until the late '90s too. Perhaps it was another pianist?

I'm not arguing with you but did you hear Gilels version. I find that to be one of the best Hammerklavier's.

No doubt a good performance, but not quite up with Sokolov. Levy is interesting though I feel he's more suited to op. 111 and the Liszt sonata (looking forward to vol. 3 in the Marston survey). Serkin doesn't compete IMO, unless you mean Peter Serkin.

[daniel patschan]

Two weeks ago i bought 5 CDs of Sokolov and from the very first moment i heard him i was blown away. Why isn´t he more famous ? He has everything: Incredible power, passion, unique control and he has to say something (as oposed to MA Hamelin). I will never truly understand the machnisms of the market - who gets famous and who not. G. Sokolov plays within the highest possible range !

[m]

as far as I know he has never performed the Schumann Fantaisie...

He actually has. I heard it live. Also there is a recording on Melodiya.

[ramseytheii]

sorry but you must be confused. Sokolov does not play Liszt because he does not like him, and as far as I know he has never performed the Schumann Fantaisie. Haydn did not enter his repertoire until the late '90s too. Perhaps it was another pianist?

Probably his attitude towards Liszt affects his level of popularity and fame, though that hardly matters.  These days concert pianists are expected to play everything; in conservatories and in competitions they are required to play music that they don't really feel personally towards, "just because" it is in the repertoire, or every pianist must play it.  In this respect I wish more people would look towards the example of Glenn Gould, who even early in his career refused to play such Romantic warhorses as Tchaikovsky concerto or whatnot, and stuck with what he did best.  Sokolov does many things fantastically, especially French Baroque music, probably he has a unique Bach though I have never heard it.  His Chopin is out of this world, and I prefer it to every other person's that I have heard live!  However many things i think are simply not suited to his style.  His performance which I heard in Germany of the Schubert D959 sonata was just not convincing; it was not orchestral, and on such an intimate level of pianism that it sounded like a strange long-lost Chopin sonata.  That being said, I  just don't think it necessary that every pianist play everything, although it may in the end affect their popularity.  It didn't for Gould, but he was a special case, who had a hidden ambition for world fame.  Maybe Sokolov has no such ambition.

Walter Ramsey

[daniel patschan]

What is his attitude towards Liszt ? Pure antipathy/hate ?