Grigori Sokolov

He has been likened to Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Sviatoslav Richter, Glenn Gould; and the comparisons say something.

Sokolov illuminates the inner reaches of the human soul, he unfurls canvases of breathtaking breadth and colour, he is a born dramatist and a superlative craftsman. Like Richter, his technique is both all-embracing and transcendent. His pianism itself can move listeners to tears, and his artistic integrity is both luminous and austere, inspiring audiences the world over. But Sokolov is like no other. Though not the most famous, he is felt by many to be the greatest pianist living. Be it in Byrd, Couperin, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Rachmaninov, Scriabin or Prokofiev, his tone, rhythmic subtlety and clarity of articulation form a unique and transformational combination.