Grigory Sokolov (born April 18, 1950) is a Russian pianist. April 18 is the 108th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (109th in leap years). ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... A grand piano A piano is a keyboard instrument, widely used in western music for solo performance, chamber music, and accompaniment, and also as a convenient aid to composing and rehearsal. ...

Born in Leningrad, Sokolov began studying the piano at the age of five and at seven entered the Leningrad Conservatory to study with Leah Zelikhman, where he later studied with Moisey Khalfin. He gave his first major recital in Moscow at the age of 12, and came to international attention after winning the 1966 International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition. Aged only sixteen, he won the Gold Medal on a unanimous decision by a jury headed by Emil Gilels. He was largely unknown in the West, however, until the late 1980s, but is now rightfully regarded as a giant of the piano. Sokolov's concerts are anticipated with eagerness where ever he travels. He's not been outside of Europe for several years now, prefering to tour Europe. His programmes change twice a year, Sokolov mining the music he plays for every jewel before he feels ready to consider a new work. Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and Petrograd (Петрогра́д, 1914–1924), is a city located in Northwestern Russia on the delta of the river Neva at the east end of the Gulf of Finland... Moscow (Russian: Москва́, Moskva, IPA: (help· info)) is the capital of Russia, located on the river Moskva. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ... The International Tchaikovsky Competition is one of the most prestigious classical music competitions in the world. ... Emil Grigoryevich Gilels (Э́миль Григо́рьевич Ги́лельс) (October 19, 1916 – October 14, 1985) was a Ukrainian classical pianist of the Soviet era. ...

Sokolov's concerts have been notable for a wide choice of repertoire including a foray into music of the 17th and 18th centuries by William Byrd, Johann Jakob Froberger, François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau. He's focussed mainly on Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Robert Schumann and Johann Sebastian Bach in recent years. Sokolov appears to have stopped playing the blockbuster works such as Sergei Rachmaninoff's second and third concertos, the latter making a profound impact on a 1995 London Proms audience for its coruscating virtuosity and nobility of conception. Recently he has been playing Mozart's 23rd concerto to enormous acclaim selling out weeks in advance, and in Spain earning a half-hour ovation after one performance. William Byrd William Byrd (1540? – July 4, 1623) was one of the most celebrated English composers in the Renaissance. ... Johann Jakob Froberger (1616 – 1667) was a German Baroque composer, harpsichordist, and organist, and a pupil of Girolamo Frescobaldi. ... François Couperin (born Paris November 10, 1668 – September 12, 1733 in Paris) was an esteemed French composer in the Baroque style. ... Jean-Philippe Rameau Jean-Philippe Rameau (September 25, 1683 - September 12, 1764) was one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the Baroque era. ... Ludwig van Beethoven by Carl Jäger (Date unknown). ... Frédéric-François Chopin as portrayed by Eugène Delacroix in 1838. ... Mozart drawing by Doris Stock 1789 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (born Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Theophilus Mozart) (January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) is among the most significant and enduringly popular composers of European classical music. ... Robert Schumann (June 8, 1810 – July 29, 1856) was a German composer and pianist. ... Johann Sebastian Bach (21 March 1685 O.S. – 28 July 1750 N.S.) was a German composer and organist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra and solo instruments drew together almost all of the strands of the baroque style and brought it to its ultimate maturity. ... Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff (Russian: , Sergej Vasilevič Rahmaninov, April 1, 1873 (N.S.) or March 20, 1873 (O.S.) – March 28, 1943) was a Russian-American composer, pianist, and conductor. ... Sergei Rachmaninoffs Piano Concerto No. ... Sergei Rachmaninoffs Piano Concerto No. ... A Promenade concert in the Royal Albert Hall, 2004. ... Mozarts Concerto No. ...

Sokolov has recorded all of his albums live (for Naive Classics), and has released music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Alexander Scriabin, and Sergei Prokofiev, among others. His 2002 Paris recital was recorded by the celebreated director Bruno Monsaingeon and released on DVD. Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (Russian: Алекса́ндр Никола́евич Скря́бин, Aleksandr Nikolaevič Skrjabin; sometimes transliterated as Skryabin or Skrjabin) (6 January 1872–27 April 1915) was a Russian composer and pianist. ... Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (Russian: , Sergej Sergejevič Prokofev, 15/April 271, 1891 – March 5, 1953) was a Ukrainian-born Russian composer who mastered numerous musical genres and came to be admired as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. ...