A wonderfully empathetic and intelligent ‘piano whisperer’

Denis Kozhukhin

Next Concerts

April 28, 2026

Vienna, Austria

Bernstein: Symphony No.2 ‘The Age of Anxiety’
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor, Op.74 ‘Pathétique’

– Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor)

Venue: Wiener Musikverein, Vienna

Link to the performance

April 30, 2026

Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem, Op.20
Bernstein: Symphony No.2 ‘The Age of Anxiety’
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor, Op.74 ‘Pathétique’

– Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor)

Venue: Alte Oper Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main

Link to the performance

Reviews

February 27th, 2015

Denis Kozhukhin proves himself here to be a wonderfully empathetic and intelligent ‘piano whisperer’. … Mere effects are not his thing, something which Kozhukhin makes clear from the very first note. His touch, his articulation – all is sensitively balanced and displays an almost crystalline precision. This is combined with an exceptionally discriminating and subtle use of pedal, which at most adds nuance to the sound colours of the Haydn sonatas’ finely woven motif progressions, but without blurring them… Denis Kozhukhin delights with his playing of Haydn where every detail is individually illuminated despite a variety of emphases and colours.

BR Klassik, February 2015

Video

Brahms: Fantasies No. 1 in D minor

In the Press

“Ravel’s Concerto in G takes us to completely different worlds. From that suggestive, almost hypnotic evocation of Debussy, we move on to a piece full of vitality, smiles, light-heartedness and, as its author intended, fun. Exultant fun from beginning to end, with hardly any respite, barely in the second movement, which never ceases to smile charmingly, albeit in a calmer way. Music that fits like a glove to the vitalistic nerve of the French maestro, who put all the rhythmic voltage into a vibrant accompaniment for the Russian soloist Denis Kozhukhin, who in turn demonstrated his excellent level once again.

As has been appreciated on previous occasions, the Russian’s sound is beautiful and has sufficient presence, although it does not dazzle. He shades beautifully and handles the pedal with general restraint, only occasionally overstepping that balance. He translated the fast-paced score apolloniously and with impeccable momentum, with a good dose of panache and fantasy, very successful realisation of the music’s jazzy resonances, and enviable intensity, connecting very well with the baton in a reading in which the rhythmic energy shone through.”