Piano Solo – Grigory Sokolov

Grigory Sokolov belongs to that rare group of soloists who, time and again, lift music to transcendent heights and manage to surprise even the most discerning audiences. With only a few exceptions, he has appeared at Konserthuset every year since 2004 for an annual concert in October.

Each of Sokolov’s concerts is unique in its own way. Although he possesses a truly extraordinary technique, he is far from conforming to any standard model of the piano virtuoso. Among many other qualities, he is renowned for his ability to draw an unusually wide spectrum of colours and sonorities from the piano.

His programmes also consistently offer intriguing perspectives. At his most recent visit, audiences could compare early and late works by both Beethoven and Brahms. He also gave no fewer than five encores, consisting of Chopin mazurkas and pieces by Rameau and Johann Sebastian Bach.

This time, Grigory Sokolov presents two monumental piano sonatas – composed at opposite ends of life. Schubert’s final Piano Sonata in B flat major is one of his most beloved works: expansive yet intimate, with long melodic lines and dark shadows. Brahms’s Third Sonata is something quite different. He was only 20 when he composed this powerful music, filled with Romantic ardour, drama and an almost symphonic richness.