Some Prokofiev

[George K]

I remember seeing Sokolov's video of this, and so many comments said it was too slow.

Here's Glenn Gould doing the "Precipitato" movement of the Piano Sonata #7. It's about 8 seconds faster than Sokolov. I'm not in love with the finale part of it, but...

Link to video

For comparison, here's Sokolov:

Link to video

Though a bit slower, it seems to have the rhythmicity and power that the piece needs.

In the comments:

It is the inexorability of his tempo that makes it so much more powerful than most performances. It ends at the same tempo he starts with but with such a massive increase of sound.

Starting rather prosaic and controlled he unleashes the beast very soon, still keeping the rythm calm and steady, serving us the final inferno in an extraordinary cultivated manner without sparing us from its original energy.

I love this piece. I'll never play it. But, my God...

[George K]

OK - I just searched other performances on YouTube.

Valentina - technically perfect. Soulless.
Yuja - very very fast.
Khatia - even faster. Just do it as fast as possible and ignore the "music."
Bronfman - not bad. Very fast, but..no soul.

Sokolov remains my fave.

[jon-nyc]

Horowitz has a recording. Did it not show up in YouTube?

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in Some Prokofiev:

Horowitz has a recording. Did it not show up in YouTube?

It's there.

Link to video

It's quick. Very quick.

I just don't get the sense of driving rhythm that Sokolov has.

[jon-nyc]

Yeah, Sokolov rocks.

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in Some Prokofiev:

Yeah, Sokolov rocks.

It's just amazing how he can play it slower and make it sound faster.

ETA: It was his performance of the Beethoven Op 28 that inspired me to learn that sonata.

LOL - only learned the 1st 3 movements.

[Horace]

Sokolov is always amazing.

[Axtremus]

@George-K said in Some Prokofiev:

Though a bit slower, it seems to have the rhythmicity and power that the piece needs.

It is too slow. No, it does not have the rhythmicity or power that the piece needs.

It shouldn't be hard to say Gould or Sokolov played a piano piece badly.

Just listen to Argerich or Wang for this piece and be done with it. Heck, even Lang Lang and most Cliburn competitors play this piece better than Gould and Sokolov.

[Horace]

@Axtremus said in Some Prokofiev:

@George-K said in Some Prokofiev:

Though a bit slower, it seems to have the rhythmicity and power that the piece needs.

It is too slow. No, it does not have the rhythmicity or power that the piece needs.

It shouldn't be hard to say Gould or Sokolov played a piano piece badly.

Just listen to Argerich or Wang for this piece and be done with it. Heck, even Lang Lang and most Cliburn competitors play this piece better than Gould and Sokolov.

That jump from "disagrees with me" to "finds it difficult to admit being wrong" is impressive.