5.0 out of 5 stars
Dazzling Pianism, February 14, 2008
This review is from: Piano Sonata 2 / Etudes (Audio CD)
I do not regard this over-rated cult pianist in the same class as Richter, Horowitz or Rubinstein. His playing is sometimes ostentatious and often sounds as if waging war against music unlike Richter who would breathe life into music in a most amazing way. Neither he could match lavishingly rich and warm tones Rubinstein produced.
But this CD, I can recommend to anyone, as these live recordings of Chopin's 12 Etudes and 2nd sonata are relatively free from Sokolov's over-cooked style, and intensity and dexterity of his playing is just incredible, the last movement of the sonata and the last two Etudes are good example. He plays opening Etude no.1 with remarkable poise and delicacy, bringing out detail in left hand part. Recording quality is below average for DDD, too metalic and too brightly lit, and does not do much justice to his sensitive playing.
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