For the first time on CD, this rare recording of Chopin’s Piano Concerto no.1 is one of Grigory Sokolov’s only productions in a concerto role, accompanied by an orchestra. This original Eurodisc session recording with the Münchner Philharmoniker has been newly remastered from the original tapes.

Grigory Sokolov is regarded as one of the world’s leading pianists, dedicated to his art, and adored by his audiences in sold-out concerts. Few pianists of recent years have become quite such a legend in their own lifetime. Sokolov created a huge worldwide fanbase solely by playing concerts, as he refused do studio recordings. The only recordings available are live recording of concerts.

Grigory Sokolov was born in Leningrad on 18 April 1950. At seven he was admitted to the Central Music School of the Leningrad Conservatory, where he remained until 1968. In 1966 he sensationally won the First Prize at the International Tchaikovsky Contest in Moscow. He was the youngest of all the prize-winners up to that time.

Grigory Sokolov, who names recordings by Gilels, Gould, Solomon, Lipatti and Rachmaninov as his models, has himself a large repertory ranging from the classical to the contemporary. He, however, places greatest emphasis on the works of the Viennese classicists, the German Romantics, the French impressionists and contemporary Russians.

Recording: Bürgerbräu, Munich, November 1977