Sokolov plays Bach Gigue from Partita No.4

Bach: Partita No.4 in D major BWB 828, Gigue

Grigorij Sokolov, live in Munich, November 15th 1990.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• sokolov
• bach
• partita
• 828
• gigue

[thetunr]

Here on YT, it'd be enough to listen in a row from the Paris recital to the Prokofiev's Precipitato (where btw the tone is supplemented by all sort of pedal and piano-action noises), the lute stop of the Tic-Toc-Choc and the silver organ pipes of the Bach-Siloti.

[thetunr]

Secondly, what I find especially astonishing in Sokolov is 1) how he manages to keep *consistent* and always beautiful his tone, regardless the speed or the magnitude of sound, in a given musical context and 2) how he can truly make the very same piano sound as a different instrument just a few seconds later. I witnessed that many times in the concert hall. [TBC]

[thetunr]

@pianopera

Let me elaborate a bit. First of all, I believe that assessing comparatively artists of that caliber is pointless - artistically, they are distinct worlds and you must take each as a whole, what you like and what you like less. In fact, this is particularly true if they come from different eras - we have gone through a number of paradigm shifts in piano playing in the last century or so, haven't we. [TBC]

[pianopera]

That's one of the characteristics of Bach's great music: that it lends itself admirably to so many different tempi and interpretations. Sokolov's version of the gigue is highly articulative, architectonic and cerebral.

[thetunr]

@pianopera

True Erwin, but in Sokolov's playing there also is a tone quality that you cannot find in any other pianists to my knowledge. Most people fail to understand that. That kind of (speed-independent!) tone production is simply out of reach for virtually any pianist. This is golden age piano playing a century later.

[pyroprince78]

@thetunr such an interesting comment. i do find his tone rather special. what do you mean by speed independent?

[thetunr]

@pyroprince78

I mean that Sokolov's neuromuscular coordination is more or less something unique. :)

[drtpo]

the best pianist in the world today!!

[klaverfar]

Jojopooo: Gould's the greatest of all times, I do agree on that. But I said the best alive and still playing

[xakoviski]

There is an annoying beep going on the background. Or maybe i'm going mad.

Lovely playing from Sokolov!!

[DerekWilliamsMusic]

God that's fast! The way Glenn Gould would play it.

[klemperer100]

GRANDE!!!!!!!!!

[OlegGultayev]

I thought, that this is Andrass Shiff, when i saw at the prevew

[smudgepots]

This is why when you go to a Sokolov recital, there are people who have travelled half-way across Europe to see him. Once you have heard him play like this live, you will travel far and wide to experience that level of artistic sensation again, and again, simply because it is unique.

[095kiki]

Pas le temps de respirer, me donne le tournis, cette version est impressionnante mais pas du tout ma préférée ..

[lyarunde]

his precision is amazing

[chipncharge94]

omfg... dont say he is the best. you can say: for me he is the best. because no genius is better then another!

[sandymuso]

Love it - it's exciting!

[tombennettpiano]

@thetunr YES!