Guest
Sokolov plays Chopin Waltz in A minor Live, 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grigory Sokolov (born April 18, 1950 in Leningrad) is a Russian concert pianist, considered one of the greatest living pianists. Sokolov began studying the piano at the age of five and he entered the Leningrad Conservatory aged seven to study with Leah Zelikhman. At age 16, he came to international attention when the jury at the 1966 International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition, headed by Emil Gilels, unanimously awarded him the Gold Medal. He is now a well-known figure in concert halls around Europe, but much less so in the U.S. When asked, Sokolov cited the following pianists as having inspired him in his years of studies: “Of those whom I heard on the stage I'd like to name first of all Emil Gilels. Judging by the records, it was Rachmaninoff, Sofronitsky, Glenn Gould, Solomon [a
