Antwort an einen amerikanische Musik-Interessierten
One of his comments:
I was referring to his capricious nature. He is easily offended, likely to cancel on short notice and is known to make odd demands of the people around him. He is also brilliant and fascinating...
My reply today:
I am referring to your post concerning his capricious nature. I got information today which would confirm this judgement from the point of view of the managerial side.
Grigory Sokolov played today in Vienna, Austria. In Konzerthaus.
Program: Beethoven sonata opus 2/3, bagatelles opus 119, Schubert impromtus "the second four".
And then he added: Schubert another impromptu, hongroise, 2 pieces by Rameau, one Chopin, One Debussy.
In the break I talked with regular visitors. And I got the information that a)Sokolov likes to play in Vienna, b) he only plays in Konzerthaus and not in Musikverein, because Musikverein is not a friend of program changes in last minute, or say last month. Therefore he does not play there. By some people Musikverein is ranked higher than Konzerthaus, but in reality they are quite equal by choice of their soloists and orchestras.
Musikverein is a little bit smaller measured by audience (1600), while Konzerthaus has 1800 seats and 200 additional seats on stage. Quite near to the pianist but Sokolov does not seem to mind.
I would say that I have never seen this hall so full. There are always 5-10 empty seats, but not today. Applause was enormous, with bravo right from the end of the regular program.
Regarding my own impression I would like to joke that I will cancel my performance in Belgrade. Of course, I will not do that, but the touch of this pianist is surprising and amazing. You can hardly hear somebody else playing Beethoven so pp and ff and each tune delicately voiced.
I do have some criticism however. Although Schubert was also performed fantastically, the one in A-flat-major impromptu was too slow for my taste. This seems to be a common trait among Russian pianists. (E.g. in spite of all my admiration of Svatoslav Richter, I do not like when he plays Schubert sonatas. Too slow.)
But that is a personal opinion and could possibly not be generalized.
I was referring to his capricious nature. He is easily offended, likely to cancel on short notice and is known to make odd demands of the people around him. He is also brilliant and fascinating...
My reply today:
I am referring to your post concerning his capricious nature. I got information today which would confirm this judgement from the point of view of the managerial side.
Grigory Sokolov played today in Vienna, Austria. In Konzerthaus.
Program: Beethoven sonata opus 2/3, bagatelles opus 119, Schubert impromtus "the second four".
And then he added: Schubert another impromptu, hongroise, 2 pieces by Rameau, one Chopin, One Debussy.
In the break I talked with regular visitors. And I got the information that a)Sokolov likes to play in Vienna, b) he only plays in Konzerthaus and not in Musikverein, because Musikverein is not a friend of program changes in last minute, or say last month. Therefore he does not play there. By some people Musikverein is ranked higher than Konzerthaus, but in reality they are quite equal by choice of their soloists and orchestras.
Musikverein is a little bit smaller measured by audience (1600), while Konzerthaus has 1800 seats and 200 additional seats on stage. Quite near to the pianist but Sokolov does not seem to mind.
I would say that I have never seen this hall so full. There are always 5-10 empty seats, but not today. Applause was enormous, with bravo right from the end of the regular program.
Regarding my own impression I would like to joke that I will cancel my performance in Belgrade. Of course, I will not do that, but the touch of this pianist is surprising and amazing. You can hardly hear somebody else playing Beethoven so pp and ff and each tune delicately voiced.
I do have some criticism however. Although Schubert was also performed fantastically, the one in A-flat-major impromptu was too slow for my taste. This seems to be a common trait among Russian pianists. (E.g. in spite of all my admiration of Svatoslav Richter, I do not like when he plays Schubert sonatas. Too slow.)
But that is a personal opinion and could possibly not be generalized.
steppenhund - 5. Dez, 05:02
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