Grigory Sokolov was born in Leningrad (now St Petersburg) on the 18th of April 1950. He started to play piano at the age of five and, two years later, began studies with Liya Zelikhman at the Central Special School of the Leningrad Conservatory.
He went on to receive lessons from Moisey Khalfin at the Leningrad Conservatory, and gave his debut recital in Leningrad in 1962. Sokolov’s prodigious talent was recognised in 1965 when he won first prize in the Russian National Competition.
He made headline news beyond the Soviet Union’s borders the following year when, at 16, he became the youngest musician ever to receive the coveted Gold Medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.
Listen and enjoy Gregory Sokolov’s interpretation of the music of Brahms:
