Grigory Sokolov plays Chopin Prelude No. 17 in A flat major op. 28

Greatest pianist alive.

[@alexanderross1979]

The best interpretation of Chopin's best prelude. An absolute gem! Thank you.

[@jamestaylor6053]

My most favorite Chopin's Prelude, absolutely love it!

[@stevefoley4073]

Can't be played any better than this.

[@MrAmerica51]

Indeed!

[@korlock3000]

My favorite prelude and undoubtedly one of the greatest pieces of music ever written.

[@ericlu8893]

Absolutely unbelievable. He is so inspirational... The great Sokolov and Chopin's genius form such beauty...

[@NoahJohnson1810]

I agree, Eric. Hope you're doing well.

[@pauloliberato6953]

my favorite prelude

[@matthewproser6389]

What a superb rendition! Wonderfully understood, subtly and lyrically expressive and very, very moving. Thank you!

[@MrAmerica51]

Indeed, an even better interpretation than the one of Chopin master Rubinstein. Sokolov makes the music behind the curtain of the notes. His dynamics (1:38, 3:04)) are balanced and his phrasing more than good.

[@Ms10061997]

Yes, he most certainly is the greatest - a real musician's musician; and that's why so many pianists, both famous and aspiring, come to his performances - the famous to acknowledge, the aspiring to sit at his feet.

[@cthuluhu]

Chopin is the best music for when you're emotional. The phrasing and freedom to play with the tempo let you just pour out your soul into the keys

[@EnviroNews]

True to some extent, but in a field full or roses you can't stop to smell every one!

[@RhodesyYT]

1:30 gave me goosebumps this interpretation is that good

[@hippophile]

Stunning playing. I am starting to play this now; it is one of my favourite Chopin preludes and I finally feel able to learn it. I will surely come back to this performance a few times to get some alternatives for interpretation in a few weeks' time when I have developed my own style.

[@user-jw8hn5cg3q]

Ах , какой Вы чародей Григорий Соколов ! Стоит услышать вашу музыку и мозг ,и душа ,и тело начинают отдыхать и наслаждаться жизнью, ведь она прекрасна !!!

[@briancornish2076]

yes my favorite prelude too - somehow bitter sweet it seems to say 'keep going no matter what' - there is a future for you as well as a rich past full of memories - your life has not been in vain

[@korlock3000]

Your lives AND the past lives have not been in vain.

[@MrAmerica51]

Nice: there is a future and a past full of rich memories.

[@vk2nf]

Despite the beautiful warm and radiant A flat major key there is a sadness and wistfulness to this prelude - especially in the final return of the exposition theme over the 11 A flat pedal points.

[@johnrobertson7381]

Wondefully expressive. I'll try and play it like this. . . .try!

[@cjg8763]

This piece is in my top three favorite, along with Chopin's Polonaise Opus 53 and Grieg's Wedding Day At Troldhaugen. Such beautiful music!

[@jans5331]

Speechless ! Just want to listen.

[@nbharakey]

Listening to Sokolov comes easy like breathing.

[@carlkulzer5982]

I have never heard this played so beautifully. It is probably slower than allegretto, but I love it.

[@namododa]

아름다운 것을 볼 수 있는 눈을 가진 사람은 아름답다. if u have eyes to see beautiful things then you are beautiful.

[@xyZabC-tg1pw]

righteous melody

[@theodoremikellguerrant4918]

Exquisite.

[@easygoing2479]

I love reading all the groupies come out for these performers, this time for Sokolov. He is gentle with this, not heavy-handed, and for the most part lets the composition speak for itself. But Sokolov played the Ab "church bells" of Majorka at almost pp, where Chopin wrote them as mf (if I remember correctly) and by his student's accounts he played them with a fair amount of force. The entire "Eleven Bells" Ab section I find best to be performed very smoothly, sotto voce (except the Ab Bells, which are assigned mf and held sostenuto), with no stress introduced through any rubato on the performer's part, to invoke feelings of a peaceful evening winding down to darkness, paying attention to the perdendosi at the 84th bar. Very, very peaceful with no tension whatsoever. In my mind, this Prelude is the emotional state of a perfect day, from the time a person wakes at sunup all the way until he fades back to sleep upon the evening's darkness.

[@steveegallo3384]

Easy Going -- RUBENSTEIN OWNS the 11 bells....What courage! A close second is PLETNEV. Greetings from San Agustinillo, Oaxaca !

[@SuperTicklemonsters]

The Ab section makes or breaks this piece for me and I'm afraid I agree. In this case it breaks the piece. Give me Lima

[@n.i.6421]

El espíritu de Chopin está en la casa.

[@blacksages]

really interesting interpretation

[@jorgelopez-pr6dr]

The best Hammerklavier sonata (Beethoven) I have heard was played by him.

[@MarcelMombeek]

Perfect tempo. I have Made a recording for KZbin in almost the Same tempo. This prelude is often played to fast...

[@NotMozart1685]

wow

[@sergiopeixoto8494]

Il faut voir l'interpretation de Moreira Lima.

[@thesheetposter9277]

to play those low a flat forzandi this soft is just not my cup of tea

[@andreasneumann]

Too slow. It is Allegretto, not Andante. More a Viennese Waltz than a dramatic Rhapsody.

[@easygoing2479]

It may have dragged some, but nothing in this prelude even hints at a Viennese Waltz quality. Chopin even wrote in a letter back to Poland that he had spent time in Vienna and complained about 'piano-pounders of the west' and the public's odd taste for brusque music. He then spoke of learning nothing of import, adding "Therefore I still cannot play a waltz". As an exercise in composition, he took on his personal waltz projects and developed his own inimitable art-waltz genre, again nothing Viennese about them. To ascribe a Viennese "Ummm-pah-pah" quality to the #17 Ab Prelude is not accurate, to say the least.

[@andreasneumann]

@@easygoing2479 Viennese Waltz has nothing to do with umm-pah-pah.

[@ronwilsontringue6574]

Nice but Liberace is better

[@stevefoley4073]

You cannot be serious. Go on - tell us you're joking

[@dr.brianjudedelimaphd743]

In all fairness, Liberace was a phenomenal pianist before he sold out to Hollywood and fame...

[@olegschevciw908]

Liberace ? Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk....