Grigory Sokolov

Once again a master pianist at De Harmonie: the poetic interpretations of this Russian pianist come to life with high intensity in his performances due to his profound knowledge of the works in his vast repertoire. Among piano enthusiasts, he is recognized as one of the greatest pianists of the moment.

Grigory Sokolov

Grigory Sokolov was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) on April 18, 1950. He began playing the piano at the age of five and, two years later, started studying with Liya Zelikhman at the Central Special School of the Leningrad Conservatory. He took lessons from Moisey Khalfin at the Leningrad Conservatory and gave his debut recital in Leningrad in 1962. Sokolov's prodigious talent was recognized in 1966 when, at the age of 16, he became the youngest musician ever to receive the Gold Medal at the International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow. Emil Gilels, chairman of the Tchaikovsky Competition jury, subsequently championed Sokolov's work.
While Grigory Sokolov undertook major concert tours to the United States and Japan in the 1970s, his artistry evolved and grew away from the international spotlight. His live recordings from the Soviet era achieved an almost mythical status in the West, evidence of an artist who is both entirely individual and uniquely nourished by the rich soil of the Russian piano tradition. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Sokolov began to appear in Europe's leading concert halls and festivals. He frequently performed as a concert soloist with top-tier orchestras, collaborating with ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Munich Philharmonic before deciding to focus exclusively on solo recitals. Sokolov gives around 70 concerts each season, immersing himself fully in one program and touring extensively across Europe.

Unlike many pianists, Sokolov is deeply interested in the mechanics and construction of the instruments he plays. He spends hours examining their physical characteristics, consulting, and collaborating with piano technicians to achieve his ideal requirements. "You need hours to understand the piano because each piano has its own personality, and we play together," he explains. The collaboration between artist and instrument is crucial for the flow of Sokolov's musical ideas. Sparing in his use of the sustain pedal, he conjures everything from the subtlest tonal and textural gradations to the boldest sound contrasts through the sheer brilliance of his fingerwork. Critics regularly highlight his uncanny ability to articulate individual voices within a complex polyphonic texture and project seamless melodic lines.

In recital, he draws listeners into a close relationship with the music, transcending matters of superficial display and showmanship to reveal a deeper spiritual meaning. Sokolov's art rests on the rock-solid foundations of his unique personality and individual vision.

After two decades without any recordings, Sokolov eventually signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon. Their collaboration has enabled the release of several recordings, all strictly taken from live concerts. The first album presents the complete recording of Sokolov's sensational recital at the Salzburg Festival in 2008, featuring music by Mozart and Chopin. The second album is a live recording dedicated to Schubert and Beethoven. The third includes two piano concertos: Mozart K488 and Rachmaninov's No. 3. This CD was released alongside the DVD of the documentary film A Conversation That Never Was by Nadja Zhdanova, a revealing portrait of Sokolov based on interviews with friends and colleagues of the pianist and illustrated with never-before-seen footage from private archives. In April 2022, DG released a new CD/DVD featuring the audio and video recording of the recital Sokolov performed at the Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt. The recording offers three Haydn Sonatas, the four Schubert Impromptus, Op. 142, along with a generous selection of encores.

Website: grigory-sokolov.net