I only 'discovered' this Pianistic genius by chance (on YouTube) the other evening. I immediately ordered 7 CDs and a DVD which I now have playing on the TV.
He opens the concert with what my Academy friends used to call the 'boring' Beethoven Piano Sonata, the one in E major Op.14/1. I never in my life expected to hear this piece played with the kind of pianistic imagination that Sokolov displays.
When judging Pianists, we use two measures: Technique (how well the fingers can get round the notes) and Musicality (that indefinable quality of Musicianship, the Classical Music Tradition passed down from generation to generation).
Sokolov (b.1950) is at the top of his game in both disciplines.
lovedarcy
I saw his recital here a month ago and I went home stunned. this man was super. it was a wonderful concert with Schubert c minor sonata and Chopin preludes.
and at the end he gave six (six!) anchores.