Denis Kozhukhin

Kölner Philharmonie / Haydn, Frank, Schubert, Hindemith, Brahms

“From the beginning until the second (and final) encore, Kozhukhin’s performance drew from the innermost sources of musical feeling and sensitivity, displaying a maturity which is quite extraordinary for his age…

Without such skills, a pianist would certainly fight a losing battle, especially when it comes to Schubert’s “Four Impromptus” (op.90). Kozhukhin, however, offered profound sincerity and animated cheerfulness, bleak resignation and heartfelt sentiment in turns…

Finally, Brahms’ “Seven Fantasies” (op. 116) were a wonder of tonal subtleties, and they were not without the sometimes necessary “paw of a lion”, like in the first or last movements. But especially moving were the contemplative, restrained “Intermezzi” (No. 2, 4 and 6) which tell of the harrowing loneliness of the aging Brahms. With Alexander Siloti’s mellow Bach transcription and Sgambati’s elegiac transcription of a melody from Gluck’s Orpheus and Euridice, the pianist from Nowgorod bid his quiet farewell.

He is not only allowed to come back, he has to come back…”
Kölnische Rundschau, October 2013