Country

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Russia

Birth

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April 18, 1950 in Leningrad, Russia

Genre

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Keyboard

 

Grigory Sokolov is a Russian classical pianist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest living pianists. He was born on April 18, 1950, in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia. Sokolov's parents were both musicians, and his father was a composer and conductor. Sokolov began playing the piano at the age of five and showed exceptional talent from an early age. Sokolov studied at the Leningrad Conservatory with Maria Yudina, a renowned pianist and teacher. He made his debut at the age of 12, performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. Sokolov continued his studies at the Moscow Conservatory with Yakov Flier, another distinguished pianist and teacher. In 1966, Sokolov won first prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, which launched his international career. He went on to perform with major orchestras around the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. Sokolov is known for his interpretations of the works of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Schubert, among others. Sokolov is also known for his intense and demanding approach to music-making. He is known to spend hours practicing and preparing for performances, and he often performs without a break, playing entire cycles of works by a single composer in one concert. Sokolov is also known for his refusal to record for major record labels, preferring instead to release recordings on small independent labels. One of Sokolov's most famous performances was his 1995 recital at the Salzburg Festival, which was recorded and released on DVD. The program included works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Schumann, and Sokolov's performance was hailed as a masterpiece of pianistic artistry. Sokolov has also performed at the BBC Proms, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Verbier Festival, among others. Sokolov has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In addition to his victory at the Tchaikovsky Competition, he has been awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland by the Russian government and the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government. He has also been awarded the Echo Klassik Award, the Diapason d'Or, and the Gramophone Award, among others. Despite his international fame and acclaim, Sokolov remains a private and enigmatic figure. He rarely gives interviews and is known for his reluctance to engage with the media. He is also known for his love of nature and his passion for hiking and mountaineering. In recent years, Sokolov has continued to perform and record, and his concerts continue to be highly anticipated events in the classical music world. His recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations and Beethoven's Diabelli Variations are considered among the greatest recordings of these works. Sokolov's artistry and dedication to his craft have made him one of the most revered and respected pianists of our time.

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