Beethoven's Piano Sonatas

[Belle]

I saw him play the Hammerklavier in Toulouse once I thought it was OK, more than OK, but somehow I never wanted to listen to the recording, not special enough for that. Same for his op 111 recordings -- though there are some challenging ideas about tempos there --  I've not heard him do that one in concert but somehow I've acquired recordings.

I wish he'd play more sonatas I like -- op 101, op 109!

In concert a lot of the impact comes from the sound he makes, and the fact that he really clearly loves concertising. That gets a bit lost in a recording.

 

That last line of yours is apposite.  There's no doubt Sokolov has a very individual sound!!