Sokolov on DG

Brian · October 17, 2014, 04:41:43 AM

Berlin, 16 October 2014. Deutsche Grammophon today announced the exclusive signing of Grigory Sokolov, one of the world's most enigmatic and visionary artists. The revered Russian pianist, born in Leningrad in 1950, is known for the spellbinding subtlety and endless variety of his tone, the vast depths of his musicianship and the spiritual intensity of his music-making.

Sokolov is also known for what he does not do: he no longer performs with orchestras, nor on pianos that are more than five years old. He makes no studio recordings and is reluctant to do interviews, feeling more comfortable expressing himself through his music. In an uncompromising pursuit of artistic excellence, he always demands at least double the rehearsal time expected by his peers prior to every recital – and, as if in return, gives double the amount of encores. In short, his pursuit of perfection is all-consuming.

His first album for the Yellow Label, a recital of works by Mozart and Chopin recorded LIVE at the 2008 Salzburg Festival, is set for global release in January 2015. This will be his first new album for almost 20 years – since a Schubert Sonatas disc, recorded in 1992, came to the market in 1996.

http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/us/gpp/index/grigory-sokolov-signing

North Star · October 17, 2014, 05:04:18 AM

Excellent news indeed!

Quote from: Brian on October 17, 2014, 04:41:43 AMSokolov is also known for what he does not do: he no longer performs with orchestras, nor on pianos that are more than five years old.

So he won't be playing Chopin on a period instrument anytime soon..

The new erato · October 17, 2014, 05:22:41 AM

Quote from: North Star on October 17, 2014, 05:04:18 AM
Excellent news indeed!
So he won't be playing Chopin on a period instrument anytime soon..

Only if it is built within the last 5 years,,,,,

Drasko · October 17, 2014, 05:43:47 AM

It's a great news that he changed his mind about not allowing recordings for release.

And yet out of vast amount of his unreleased repertoire they seem to have decided to go for yet another recording of Chopin Preludes, one of very few things he did ever release. Yes, it's an almost twenty years older recording but it is still daft.

Unless there is another Salzburg recital from 2008 beside this one:

http://www.salzburgerfestspiele.at/archive_detail/programid/4195

Todd · October 17, 2014, 07:23:02 AM

Interesting news. Given that the recording is almost seven years old, I guess that means Sokolov is going the Hilary Hahn and Daniel Barenboim route and producing the recordings and only licensing to DG. That may or may not result in consistent sound quality. I'm not sure if the recital material is enough to entice me to buy this release, but maybe.

Mandryka · October 17, 2014, 10:28:53 AM

Quote from: Drasko on October 17, 2014, 05:43:47 AM
It's a great news that he changed his mind about not allowing recordings for release.

And yet out of vast amount of his unreleased repertoire they seem to have decided to go for yet another recording of Chopin Preludes, one of very few things he did ever release. Yes, it's an almost twenty years older recording but it is still daft.

Unless there is another Salzburg recital from 2008 beside this one:

http://www.salzburgerfestspiele.at/archive_detail/programid/4195

You have to remember that his Schubert impromptus and Hammerklavier from a couple of years ago have already been released by Medici TV. I heard him play the Chopin 3rd sonata and some mazurkas a few months ago, and I could well imagine that he didn't want to commit those interpretations to record. On the other hand, the recordings which are circulating on the web of his Chopin preludes from about four years ago show a new and interesting conception of the music. Let me know if you want to hear them and I'll send you a file (the sound is all you would expect.)

I suppose the other possibility is Brahms - I heard him play Brahms and Mozart in 2012. He has major new things to say about late Brahms. I expect that will come.

Drasko · October 18, 2014, 03:34:41 PM

Quote from: Mandryka on October 17, 2014, 10:28:53 AM
On the other hand, the recordings which are circulating on the web of his Chopin preludes from about four years ago show a new and interesting conception of the music. Let me know if you want to hear them and I'll send you a file (the sound is all you would expect.)

Thank you, but I think I'll pass this time. I haven't been in the mood for preludes lately.

QuoteI suppose the other possibility is Brahms - I heard him play Brahms and Mozart in 2012. He has major new things to say about late Brahms. I expect that will come.

There are many possibilities, for me first and foremost Rameau, then Bach, Franck, Scriabin ... and if they're willing to go as far back as mid-oughts for Chopin there was a tremendous recital of Impromptus, op.62 Nocturnes and very fine Polonaise-fantasie from about 2005 or so. I guess it mostly depends on what has been recorded in best sound for official release.

Brian · October 18, 2014, 05:58:06 PM

Quote from: Todd on October 17, 2014, 07:23:02 AM
Interesting news. Given that the recording is almost seven years old, I guess that means Sokolov is going the Hilary Hahn and Daniel Barenboim route and producing the recordings and only licensing to DG. That may or may not result in consistent sound quality. I'm not sure if the recital material is enough to entice me to buy this release, but maybe.

Someone better informed may correct me, but I don't think DG employs house engineers/producers anymore. They only hire freelances. This means the companies with their own engineers on payroll are small companies like BIS, Sono Luminus, and Delos, where the engineers are often also senior officials. And recently the extraordinary engineers at BIS formed their own consulting company, so I think even that may not be true anymore.

Mandryka · October 19, 2014, 01:03:33 PM

Quote from: Drasko on October 18, 2014, 03:34:41 PM
Thank you, but I think I'll pass this time. I haven't been in the mood for preludes lately.

There are many possibilities, for me first and foremost Rameau, then Bach, Franck, Scriabin ... and if they're willing to go as far back as mid-oughts for Chopin there was a tremendous recital of Impromptus, op.62 Nocturnes and very fine Polonaise-fantasie from about 2005 or so. I guess it mostly depends on what has been recorded in best sound for official release.

Vicenza 1st January 2005. Sound not good enough for a commercial DG release really.

Drasko · October 19, 2014, 03:34:52 PM

Quote from: Mandryka on October 19, 2014, 01:03:33 PM
Vicenza 1st January 2005. Sound not good enough for a commercial DG release really.

I doubt DG is trawling the internetz for bootlegs. It doesn't need to be Vicenza (recording I have is from Amsterdam), he plays one program all year, it could have been professionally recorded somewhere else, by a radio station for instance (Austrian radio at Salzburg, Bavarian at Munich ...). But this all is but idle speculation, neither of us have any idea where the DG will be sourcing the recordings from.

mc ukrneal · October 20, 2014, 10:13:36 AM

Quote from: Brian on October 17, 2014, 04:41:43 AM
Sokolov is also known for what he does not do: he no longer performs with orchestras, nor on pianos that are more than five years old. He makes no studio recordings and is reluctant to do interviews, feeling more comfortable expressing himself through his music. In an uncompromising pursuit of artistic excellence, he always demands at least double the rehearsal time expected by his peers prior to every recital – and, as if in return, gives double the amount of encores. In short, his pursuit of perfection is all-consuming.

Why five years? Has he given a reason? Is this really true?