One of my very favorite piano performances of anything. Pogorelic brings something to this sonata that no one else can.

Ivo Pogorelich was born in Belgrade in 1958 as son of a musician. He received his first piano lessons at the age of seven and went to Moscow at the age of twelve to study at the Central Special Music School and then at the Tchaikowsky Conservatory. In 1976 he began intensive studies with the renowned pianist and teacher Aliza Kezeradze, with whom he was married from 1980 until her untimely death in 1996. Mme. Kezeradze was able to transmit the spirit and matter of the school of Beethoven and Liszt, the tradition of the Liszt-Siloti school, originated in Vienna and than carried through to the Conservatory of St. Petersburg, flourishing towards the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th. Century. Pogorelich´s sound, concerts and recordings pay homage to this exceptionally refined, visionary, and truly revolutionary woman, who so lovingly made Pogorelich a unique artist of genius. Ivo Pogorelich won the first prize at the Alessandro Casagrande Competition at Terni (Italy) in 1978 and the first price at the Montreal International Music Competition in 1980. In October of the same year he entered the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw where, when prevented from participating in the final contest as a soloist with the orchestra, a fierce controversy resulted in the renowned argentinian pianist Martha Argerich, a member of the jury, protesting and leaving the competition, joined by other members of the jury panel, with the words “He is a genius”. The New York Times once wrote “He played each note exactly, with such a feeling, such expression, he was an entire orchestra- it was as if he played 200 years ahead of our time”. In this spirit Ivo Pogorelich is known today as a poet of the instrument. Ivo Pogorelich is not only an artist of the highest caliber, discipline and musicianship, but the archetype of the modern artist, the isolated and courageous master, who finds his own way to new heights of expression, no matter the prejudices or the barriers of misunderstanding raised against him. He stands alone at the beginning of a new epoch like a prophet, mapping the routes that art would take. Pogorelich´s cathartic and mystical sound, is concerned with the ultimate mysteries that transcend this world. His grandiose, colossal and majestic art, symbolizes the struggle of the human soul to find release from the bonds of its material body. His exquisite and overwhelming music continues to echo throughout the entire performance and beyond, so the action is at once momentary, eternal and complete. Pogorelich´s interpretations are indescribably beautiful and irresistible. His sound is pure poetry and extremely emotional, yet entirely unsentimental. We are hypnotized by his new and radical naturalness, by his nobility, dignity, severity and sobriety; transporting us to states of wonder, ecstasy, meditation, love and compassion. -- Sound and Silence, Life and Death, Time and Space; collapse into the Eternal moment of Infinity. -- ----------------------- "you have to get into the phycological frame of mind in which composers wrote their works in order to discover its secrets. virtuosity comes from the greek origin virtue. original is finding the origin Gaudi said. rachmaninov had arthritis at the end of his life, he was so weak that his sound was very short, that is the reason he played fast, to fill the vacuum. if you have long sound you are in command to achieve clarity and the hypnotic sound between the notes. the problem was always the conflict and the difference between the absolute and the relative quality. beauty in music is like in diamonds, the purest diamond in the world is the Koh-i-Noor, it is the absolute beauty to which others with relative beauty are compared. work as hard as a galley slave. one should always try as much as possible to rediscover music as though one is hearing it for the first time, searching everywhere for new meanings and new depths. the highest function of the artist is to release the spirituality and the emotional immediacy that lie within the score. sound becomes metaphysical only when you have completely explored all physical possibilities. you should explore until reaching the absurd. music takes you to another universe of eternity that remains with you after the concert is finished." Ivo Pogorelich. ------------------------------------

The greatest pianist that I ever saw perform (four times in San Francisco). Unique, unorthodox, difficult, moody, introspective, self-doubting. Genius.

Nobody plays like Ivo. He brought a whole new level of feel to this piece, my favorite version by far!

We are blessed to still have pianists as competent and artistic as Ivo. I hope the tradition continues.

God, what gorgeous music. Ivo Pogorelich is the best with this work. Clean, melodic as hell, original, full of passion.

It is amazing that we people always tend to look for things in someones performamce like dynamics, tempi etc. We tend to get occupied by,,technical"things and try to nit pick things we dont like but i have to say this. I am amazed by the emotions and life that each note has, its like a story of great magnitude that is told by expressing yourself through. It is sad that in this,, competition days" we forget this. Bravo Ivo for being yourself, thanks for sharing your story.

Best performance of this piece I've found. The Marche Funebre actually works well with a real march like tempo.

This performance of Chopin's Sonata no. 2 is really awesome, I've heard a few other interpretations, but his is the best for me, he was totally fluent and in control, especially in the parts where other performers find real difficulty. He doesn't mess with it in terms of changing the tempo as I've heard others do, it's unpretentious, potent, technically and artistically brilliant, and totally absorbing.

I've never really appreciated how haunting and solemnly beautiful the funeral march is until now. I think we're often too familiar with it in media to give it the credit it deserves.

I have never listened to his playing this piece without tears falling down on my face. Ivo is my favourite pianist along with Sviatoslav Richter.

Command, control, & voicing in a class of its own!!! Genius interpretation!!!

Ivo Pogorelich is a great pianist!! One of the most admirable interpretation of Chopin Sonate #2.

Awe-inspiring....and at the end of the Finale, Ivo's expression, upon hitting the last chord, resembling that of a person who just woke up from a sincere prayer....that gave me goosebumps

Иво передает всю глубину этой Сонаты. Его исполнение яркое, значительное, лишённое сентиментальности, мне очень нравится! Ныне живущий Гений!

Ivo Pogorelich is without question the best interpereter of Copin in history. His playing is divinely accurate, sensitive and expressive to a point which seems to go beyond what is humanly possible. I do hope Mssr. Pogorelich will, someday, at the time of his choosing, bless his listeners with some of his own compositions. A soul this expressive must have something beautiful and rare to say musically for the 21st century and for the Eternal.

Heaven on earth when Ivo plays!! One and only! Ivo Pogorelic!

Yes. Argerich disagreed with the judges ruling, declared him a genius, and walked out.

Pogorelich honors Chopin´s music...resurrecting his soul, his spirit....like no one. "Chopin´s playing evoked all the sweet and sorrowful voices of the past. Chopin sang the tears of music...in a whole gamut of different forms and voices, from that of the warrior to those of children and angels..." Bohdan Zaleski, polish poet, personal diary 2 feb 1844. "Under the fingers of Chopins´s hand the piano became the voice of an archangel, an orchestra, an army, a raging ocean, a creation of the universe, the end of the world." Solange Clesinger

Never hears this played so lyrically. Not rushed like some other performances.

Pogorelich dedicated his artistic life to the Chopin..he is enjoying when he is a playing his opus..that's when I said that he is a Chopin..his soul belongs to the Chopin..I am from Croatia like Pogorelich..I saw his performance and I love it..

for me the best and most beatiful rendition in this sonata.

The more I listen Ivo Pogorelich, the more I love it !

He is a gem! I love his sensibilities and the expressiveness he puts in his playing! Great pianist!

A genius playing music written by a genius on a genius instrument. Mahhhhhvelous.

ソナタ3番はショパン作品傑作といわれるが、2番もすばらしい…❤🌹ポゴレリチさんの映像もみられるなんて夢のよう

Last movement is like the flash back before death!

This by far is one of the best interpretation on you tube, Argerich left the chopin competition (in the jury) because he didn't won; despite his last years of "crazyness" the approce of this sonata is magnificent, well done Ivo

It's a shame the recording quality is so poor, this is a glorious rendition of this work. While traditionally that's a bit fast for the third movement it works so well (albeit more ominously) in this. With the relentlessness of the tempo it really creates an intensity you don't often hear.

His performance........inspires me. I have just recorded (Scherzo) the second movement of this sonata on my youtube channel. Ivo Pogorelich is without question the great interpereter of Chopin music.

That's my cup of tea for this mysterious sonata.

"Chopin´s playing evoked all the sweet and sorrowful voices of the past. Chopin sang the tears of music...in a whole gamut of different forms and voices, from that of the warrior to those of children and angels..." Bohdan Zaleski, polish poet, personal diary 2 feb 1844. "Under the fingers of Chopins´s hand the piano became the voice of an archangel, an orchestra, an army, a raging ocean, a creation of the universe, the end of the world." Solange Clesinger. Ivo is the archetype of the modern artist, the isolated and courageous master, who finds his own way to new heights of expression, no matter the prejudices or the barriers of misunderstanding raised against him. He stands alone at the beginning of a new epoch like a prophet, mapping the routes that art would take. Pogorelich´s cathartic and mystical sound, is concerned with the ultimate mysteries that transcend this world. His grandiose, colossal and majestic art, symbolizes the struggle of the human soul to find release from the bonds of its material body. His exquisite and overwhelming music continues to echo throughout the entire performance and beyond, so the action is at once momentary, eternal and complete. Pogorelich´s interpretations are indescribably beautiful and irresistible. His sound is pure poetry and extremely emotional, yet entirely unsentimental. We are hypnotized by his new and radical naturalness, by his nobility, dignity, severity and sobriety; transporting us to states of wonder, ecstasy, meditation, redemption, love and compassion. Sound and Silence, Life and Death, Time and Space; collapse into the Eternal moment of Infinity.

I don't usually go for such broad tempi, but for some reason Pogorelich's performances always captivate me.

Me fascina Chopin y las interpretaciones de Pogorelich me parecen magníficas. Ojalá viniera Ivo a México para poderlo ver y escuchar en vivo.

Maravilloso, bravoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

completely magical and gorgeous.

Amazing! I am in favor of traditional playing but I recognize that this interpretation is a valuable contribution to the experience of this Sonata. Novel, beautiful, emotional.

Goosebumps at the opening octaves!

I think this is the best recording of this piece. Even though others perform this awesomely such as Pollini and Richter, this one in particular always moves me to tears.

This Hamburg Stein. sounds very good. You can not come across a New York sounding this good with this many variously contrasting timbres and colours ranging from the bottom register to the top. That crystal brilliance is just euphoric!!

Wow, just wow! What a magnificent, stupendous performance! Lyricism and passion, perfectly balanced.

Dziś poniosłam bardzo bolesną stratę. W nocy zmarła nagle moja cioteczna siostra Danuta, z którą się razem wychowywałyśmy. To moja była moja ostatnia żyjąca krewna. Była córką pianistki, wychowana, podobnie jak ja, na muzyce Chopina. Kochała muzykę nade wszystko. Dlatego postanowiłam uczcić pamięć Danuty, tym mistrzowskim wykonaniem Ivo Pogorelicza Sonaty B-mol z Marszem pogrzebowym. Mam nadzieję, że powróciła duchem do naszego domu, nad naszą ukochaną rzekę i połączyła się z duszami drogich zmarłych.Wieczne odpoczywanie Racz Jej dać Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj Jej świeci. Będziesz zawsze w moim sercu!

I don't think there is a more descriptive way to define pure love than what Chopin meant by this sonata.

I loved the 3rd movement

artistry at the absolute highest level. there are no words to describe the crystalline perfection of his conception of this piece

I love that he has kept it the same since 1980 when they disqualified him. Best interpretation by FAR!!!!

Wonderful. His performance is great as is the setting. Oh and I love his style of dress.

A truly wonderful interpretation! Completely on the same level with Rubinstein and Zimerman. Gratulations to you, Ivo Pogorelich!

this performer is very different to the run of the mill concert pianists - i remember when Pogorelich came onto the scene some years ago - he was marketed up more for his movie star good looks ; I don't recall hearing him play too much back then - but now have acquainted myself happily with many of his performances - and my, what a great pianist !!!!

Thank you for uploading this, it's my favourite piece by Chopin and the way Ivo plays it - it's just beyond anything I've ever heard. Love it!

I am not a musician and have no musical education but after hearing this performance I 'know' now what genius is. Chopin, Pogorelich and I am sure many more not known to me have it. I am stricken and so grateful to be able to listen to the acheivement and the intellect of such artists. They live in another world to mine. Occasionally I catch a glimpse and this performance was just one such. (A stiff drink is definitely called for after that experience).

счастлив тот человек,который имеет возможность выразить свои мысли и чувства! это удалось Шопену,это удалось Погореличу!

Amazing, awesome, thank you for sharing this!

しっとりするような感じがします。🎶

searched all of youtube and i'm sorry to say Ivo OWNS this. Its not even close

All props to the pianist but lets not forget that Chopin is a genius making miracles out of his music!

This is perfection

this is a mesmerizing performance!

I wish I could press that like button twice...

I am learning this piece because of his beautiful playing. Thank you, pogorelich!

I suspect that Pogorelich can somehow feel the sound before he presses the key, then he mixes the sound in his head and after that he put it on the piano. And his technical skills are so good that he can control it all the times. It is the secret behind his beautiful piano sound. Sometimes he plays very slowly but his brain works incredibly fast, twice or three times faster then normal. He is a genius. Don't even try to imitate him. You will fail if you don't have a supersensitive supercomputer in your head and big warm heart in your body.

for me on a personal basis... Chopin and Pogorelich -particularly with this piece, that I so Love- are a Match made in Heaven

How beautiful! Greatest composer with outstanding pianist = magnificence

His sound is the ultimate of human pianist.

my favourite sonata and favourite pianist,so passional

The most heartbreaking interpretation of this work. Every note holds me spellbound, his rendering wrenches the soul

inimitabile pogorelich. Chopin é lì con lui ed ascolta, il genio suona per lui. soltanto.

Thank you for being so professional and showing that the song actually has 4 movements!! AHh, this is beautiful

ivo is way beyond sound, ...pogorelich has the most powerful and perfect union of form, harmony and melody, i have no doubt he is the best interpreter ever, surpassing maria callas and horowitz, and at the level of the greatest composers to whom he seems to play for.

Excellent playing!Bravo Pogorelić!I I am your fan.

OMG! Such a divine interpretation! Chopin himself couldn't have conveyed his feelings any better than this. Immense Maestro Pogorelich!

Einer der größten Musiker der 20-21 Jahrhunderte ❤❤❤

Thank you so much for uploading this! Pogo is the best of the best... and this is my favorite Chopin piece.

Pogorelic has a completly original style amount classical pianists

This is gifted playing. Just wonderful, especially the first movement.

Beautiful. It seems as if he draws from the Sonata all the spiritual. Purity, nobility and formal beauty indeed.

funeral march is so unbelievably beautiful in a way yet makes me scared and sick to the stomach... ill never listen to it ever again, but it is now burned into my head

OMGGGGG the best versionnnn

This is so amazing, the first movement has so much power, wonderful LH propulsion and then such a soulful rendition of the melodic parts. Amazing technical mastery with so much depth.

I thank God for Ivo, I never thought it would be possible for a man to equal the effect of a birdsong

Genialne wykonanie, można słuchać i delektować się Szopenem. Dziękuję.

Everyone has emotions. Few have the technique to bring those emotions to the surface.

CHOPIN -the BEST POLISH pianist and composer ❤❤

The best no one else comes near

Pianistów jest wielu, Ivo Pogorelich jest jeden 🎉

Thank you Tiszt! One of the best recordings! marvelous!!!

He is the best piano performer! Thanks

IMO, those were the best years of Pogorelich's piano. From my particular POV, it's hard to find pianists comparable to that Pogo. Curiously enough, I know more videos than pure audios of that epoch. There are some video gems here in YT. Thanks for putting it here.👍

IVO, THE Best!!

Maestro Ivo i njegove naj interpretacije Chopina.Svaka čast gospodine!👍🏻

Muchísimas gracias por compartir esta Joya🙏⭐. Millones de gracias a almas como este Ser, que Grande es!!! Pogorelich⭐🙏♥️

I always loved the Interpretation of Rubinstein but I have to say that I am Amazed from Ivo!

some of his other Chopin interpretations are truly phenomenal - this one not quite so, but no big deal as he's still one of the better exponents of Chopin's solo piano music, i've heard - fantastic note definition, and tone - brilliant

Ivo Pogorelich is genious of piano.

Superbe! Merci pour ce moment de plenitude.

Ivo pogorelich is best world class pianist and Artur Rubinstein!! Forever.

still a great piano player… playd a lot of concerts with him in the 1980ies with the amsterdam philharmonic orchestra in the concertgebouw amsterdam

Молодой Иво - гениальный мастер!

This was the epoch where I believe IP was at another level over other pianists. The last years before his hiatus from concerts. There is a number of videos on dvd (more than audio albums), like this, where he performs in a superb, superd way. I am so grateful to who put that material in YT. It is a precious set of classical performances that could disappear forever. I dont know any version on cd or in streaming, of those "sacred" videos. Thanks!

That moment when you realize the Imperial March and the funeral song are the same thing.