Warsaw & Salzburg Recitals [recorded 2013]

Grigory Sokolov is an exceptional artist. He is regarded as one of the world's leading pianists and adored by his audience in sold-out concerts - dedicated to his art, and nothing else.

His debut album on Deutsche Grammophon "Salzburg Recital" was a huge success and is the best-selling frontline core classical release this year to date.

With Schubert & Beethoven we have another hit in our hands: Grigory Sokolov plays late masterworks by Schubert, including the much-loved Impromptus, and Beethoven's mighty "Hammerklavier" Sonata, finishing with six impeccable encores by Rameau and Brahms

This outstanding recital is culled from concerts in Warsaw and Salzburg. Salzburger Nachrichten claimed: "Wherever he plays, the utopia of ultimate satisfaction is closer than ever… "

An hour of Schubert comprising some of his best-loved piano music (the Impromptus in A flat and G flat major, with rippling arpeggios and timeless melodies), and three of his late piano works that search out the depths of his art (look at an excerpt here: https://youtu.be/oOVJBE5Utvc )

Beethoven's longest piano sonata - one of the famous "late" sonatas - explores the whole range of the extended keyboard then available to him. It lasts over 45 minutes and is one of his most over-the-top works -with its huge fugal finale that has been known to drive listeners crazy. Sokolov has it all under control.

After Mozart & Chopin this new live recording is another pianistic landmark release.