Grigory Sokolov - Live In Paris

A friend of mine who is an orchestral conductor (and Polish) insisted that I listen to Grigory Sokolov so I finally did. Not a lot is available since he refuses to do conventional studio recordings, but I first got the five CD box of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Brahms. It is simply astounding playing. Then I ordered this DVD of a 2002 concert in the Theatre des Champs Elysees in Paris where he plays three Beethoven sonatas in the first half and works by Komitas and Prokofiev in the second. There are five encores, by Chopin, Couperin and Bach. To say that this is merely perfect is to understate the case. This is absolutely extraordinary playing with the technical perfection of a studio performance combined with the musical energy of a live concert. Sokolov is possibly the finest pianist alive. It is remarkable that after listening to him play, one listens to other pianists, one starts noticing that they don't quite have the dynamics accurately (I usually listen with the score in hand), their tempi aren't quite as convincing, the colors are not quite as beautiful and so on. Great musicianship is a matter of both an overall vision and precise attention to every detail. Sokolov has both. He does not give the impression of an eccentric or an egomaniac and he does not pander to the audience or try to amuse them with dramatics. He just plays the music. About as well as I can imagine it being played.Just one of many remarkable things about this concert is that after a ferocious performance of the last movement of the Prokofiev--barbaric in intensity--he plays as his first encore a very delicate Chopin mazurka...Lovely packaging and wonderful job by Bruno Monsaingeon, the director.

Grigory Sokolov is a Russian Bear, a recluse who seldom records but plays the piano like a demon. This two hour concert in Paris is a unique opportunity to see and hear him.I have the entire set of Beethoven piano sonatas with Daniel Barenboim. Sokolov plays three of them on this DVD. I can guarantee you that there is no chance of sleeping through any of them. He also plays six dances by Komitas Vardapet. VardaWHO? Apparently he is very big in Armenia.For me the highlight of the concert was Prokofiev's Sonata no. 7. I have been listening to him since Peter and the Wolf as a child. The music for the ballet Romeo and Juliet clinched it for me. Prokofiev is a modern composer who uses extended chords like Charlie Parker did. Sokolov got a standing ovation for this work. With four encores the concert totals 123 minutes of widescreen HD entertainment.

Hi there! I have always been very satisfied and glad to buy from Amazon. But this time with the Grigory Sokolov "live in Paris" DVD I have a claim. SPITE THE FACT THAT THE PIANIST IS AN ECELLENT ONE I NOTICED THAT THE SOUND DID NOT MATCHED THE MOVEMENTS OF THE HANDS OF SOKOLOV. THAT IS, FIRST YOU COULD HEAR THE SOUND AND THEN THE HANDS OF THE PIANIST TOUCHING THE KEYS SOMETHING QUITE ANNOYING. FOR THE FIRST TIME I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS ITEM. I WISH TO TURN IT BACK TO AMAZON AND CHANGE IT FOR ANOTHER ITEM IN CASE YOU ACCEPT MY CLAIM, SOMETHING I WILL APPRECIATE INDEED. MY NAME IS JAIME PLAZA AND I HAVE AN ACCOUNT IN AMAZON AND ALSO A LONG WISH LIST.(I MENTION THIS JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I AM A FREQUENT BUYER AT AMAZON. SEE YOU, AND WATING FOR AN ANSWER.HAVE A NICE DAY

What I expected

The best. Just the best. The man is a force of nature, and the camera work and editing are exquisite. Of course the audio is superb, but who'd have thought a guy in a tux, sitting on a bench, could be so visually interesting?!

Very good

Sokolov is my favorite living pianist.

picture is goodsound not good at all

Grigory Sokolov is a world leading pianist. This DVD shows some of his skills and sensitive interpretations. Excellent!

One of the greatest Pianist alive.

Soeur Monique est le nom de l'avant dernier bis de F.Couperin donné généreusement au public Parisien (dont nous avons eu la chance de faire partie...!),en ce jour mémorable de Novembre 2002 par ce pianiste géant(au propre et au figuré) aux allures de moine moyenâgeux....en effet quel physique...! quelle gueule diraient certains...!Ce récital rare du (que l'on nous contredise donc !)plus grand pianiste vivant à ce jour était proprement phénoménal....3 sonates de Beethoven jouées avec une virilité que le compositeur lui-même n'aurait certes pas renié ...une 7ème sonate de Prokofiev qui vous soulève littéralement de votre siège ,des pièces très belles du compositeur Arménien Comidas Vardapet ,et enfin cerises sur le gâteau (et quelles cerises...!) des bis comme plus aucun pianiste n'oserait en jouer après un tel programme...(Le Bach -Siloti était un rêve..!!)La puissance ,la limpidité, la dextérité digitale incroyable,l'éventail de nuances quasiment sans limites, la concentration inouï tout au long du concert,la présence physique palpable( même ici sur DVD) ne sont que quelques-unes des qualités de ce géant du piano Russe,Depuis S.Richter que nous avions eu la chance d'entendre en concert à plusieurs reprises,jamais nous n'avions ressenti cette sensation d'être cloués au siège...comme hypnotisés, pris au piège de ce magnétisme que seule une poignée d'artistes par siècle est capable de transmettre à un public subjugué....cet artiste phénoménal, bien trop rare en concert (surtout en France) encore plus rare en CD et DVD ne peut laisser personne indifférent même les plus blasés parmi nous....à quand un autre concert à Paris...? réservez vite car les places seront très très courues...!

私がクラシックを聞きだしたのがエミール・ギレリスの演奏（正確にはその後に聴いた別のピアニストの演奏に？？？下手？と感じて）からですが、どうしても録音が古いものが多く、もっと最近の録音でいいものは無いのかとあれこれとＣＤを集めだし、それからギレリスがどういった位置にいたピアニストなのか知り改めて驚いたわけでした。魅力的なピアニストは多数いるのですが、安心して聴ける、何度も聴きたくなるとすると・・・私の好みもあるのでしょうがルガンスキー（少し荒いところもありますがそこも良い）や本当に綺麗なコロリオフ、独特な区切りをするメジューエワ（以前は若林工房から直接購入でしたが今はアマゾンでも扱いがあるんですね、便利になりましたね）、そして一番安心してきけるのがこのおっちゃん。ギレリスやベデルニコフを聴いている時に感じる心地よさ、緊張感、空気間がこの人からも漂うのです。ついつい2回3回と聴いてしまい気が付くと休みが終わってしまうとかもザラです。もっと知名度があってもいいと思うのですがこの人より下手なピアニストのほうが有名とかわけがわかりません。

Wer Grigory Sokolov bereits kennt, ist mit dieser DVD sicherlich bestens bedient.Wer ihn noch nicht kennt, wird hier einen Klangmagier kennenlernen, der heute mit Sicherheit zu den größten Pianisten gezählt werden kann.Ich habe ihn bereits 2mal live erlebt (2009 & 2010) und habe den Eindruck, daß ihm hier die Interpretation der Werke besonders intensiv am Herzen lag. Und das bei einer Spieldauer von über zwei Stunden (die Applaus-Szenen wurden sinnvoll eingekürzt).Fantastische Darbietung von großartigen Klavierwerken, bestens ausgewählt und zusammengestellt. Und alles endet mit einer Bach-Transkription von Siloti (BWV855a) zum finalen Abschluß wahrhaft überirdisch.Wunderbar.