- The Salzburg Recital.
Over the past several nights, I have ended my day by listening to pianist Grigory Sokolov play the music of Beethoven.
It is futile for me to tell you why I find his performances so spellbinding. Perhaps it is because they are so unique.
It is simply a fact that when I am listening to Sokolov, I know that I am watching and listening to someone extraordinary; this seems to be a person who has special insights and a thoroughly individual way of articulating and communing with music, so that his interpretations seem to find its very essence.
Last night I listened to Beethoven’s Sonata #15. And I will soon prepare my DVD of Barenboim playing the same music, so I can explore how differently these two artists play the same music.
On this CD, we get to hear Mr. Sokolov play the following:
Bach, J S:
- Chorale Prelude BWV639 ‘Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ’, arr. Sokolov.
- Preludes (24), Op. 28
- Mazurka No. 47 in A minor, Op. 68 No. 2, encore
- Mazurka No. 41 in C sharp minor, Op. 63 No. 3, encore
- Piano Sonata No. 2 in F, K280
- Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K332
Rameau:
- Les Sauvages, encore
Scriabin:
- Poèmes, Op. 69 Nos. 1 & 2, encore
Performed by Grigory Sokolov.
The Times, on the 16th January 2015, wrote:
“From the beginning of Mozart’s F major sonata, K. 280, the first of two included, the Sokolov spell is cast. The graceful, crisp articulation; the little hesitations, so carefully wrought: here is poetic and intimate playing of the highest order.”
After the two Mozart F – major sonatas (K280 and K332) and Chopin’s 24 Préludes Op. 28 in the main body of the program, Sokolov performed six encores that range from Rameau and Bach to Chopin and Scriabin.
Here is Grigory Sokolov, playing the music of Schubert.
And next, here is Grigory Sokolov performing Mozart’s Piano Sonata No.14 (K. 457):
Tags: Grigory Sokolov, Mozart, Chopin, Bach, Salzburg Recital
