I have tickets this season for a second concert series, for solo piano, in addition to the chamber music series for me and Eric. It kicked off today with Grigori Sokolov playing Bach and Mozart. I don’t keep up with news in the world of classical music, or who’s who, so I didn’t even know what a big name he was until I turned up and saw the hall fully sold out and read the programme leaflet.

I enjoyed both the Bach pieces (four piano duets, and a partita) and the Mozart ones (a sonata and an adagio). The duets were especially enjoyable, with the melody wandering back and forth and duplicating between the two hands.

Grigori Sokolov himself gave the impression of being there for the music only, and like he’d have been happier if the audience wasn’t there. Walked onto the stage, gave a perfunctory bow, and started playing. No smiles, barely looking at the audience afterwards. Total and utter focus on the music, which he played by heart without any sheet music.

The audience was in raptures and couldn’t get enough. They applauded until they got two extra pieces out of Sokolov, and still wouldn’t stop. After a while it became a performance in and of itself. If they paid any attention at all to Sokolov’s body language and behaviour, they can’t have imagined that he enjoyed their clapping, so it wasn’t for his sake, but more of a showing off to the others. “Look at me, look at how much I enjoyed this.” I found it rather grating and walked out before it stopped.