Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata No.8 in C minor, op.13, Alexandra Dovgan, Basel, 26.10.2020 

Alexandra Dovgan, this marvelous artist, born in 2007, is without a doubt the greatest talent I have ever seen or heard in my life. I discovered her playing the Mozart piano concerto 23, in A major when she was only 9 years old. Here she was this tiny little girl playing Mozart. Her sensitive, highly musical, marvelous playing brought tears to my eyes, for all I could think of is that she was the female reincarnation of Mozart himself, who as we all know was a prodigy just like Alexandra. I watched her facial expressions as she was playing this extraordinarily beautiful piano concerto. When she finished playing to thunderous applause, which she shyly acknowledged, I wanted to just hug her, to thank her for her wonderful artistry, and the miracle of her very existence. I never met Alexandra in person, but I can say that I love her, as if she were my own daughter.

I remember it like yesterday: It was 1967 when I first heard Daniel Barenboim's Beethoven Sonata no. 8. In all the years since then, Barenboim has stood out in my mind as the finest Pathétique I'd ever heard, and the standard by which all others were to be judged. Today my mind has been changed. Alexandra Dovgan's Pathétique is the finest I've ever heard. I'm simply blown away by her performance.

I just "discovered" Alexandra a few days ago. Now I have been listening every evening non-stop to everything she has on line. Getting to bed late, sleepy the next day at work. Oh well.

It's like hearing this piece for the very first time. The clarity, the purity, the ingenuity, the control, the emotional maturity. 13 years old!

Impossible not to have tears streaming when confronted with such transcendence, in all possible senses. There's something so so beyond words in Her playing....

Мне всегда казалось, что восьмую Сонату все играют неправильно, а игра Александры меня убедила. Просто нет слов. ❤

Impeccable precision and clarity in every note, and musicality and expressiveness that revitalizes the piece as if hearing it for the first time. Truly outstanding performance. 👏

Very impressive performance. Not many 13 year olds can interpret Beethoven as well as that. Alexandra is still only 15 but is already an established concert pianist. She was taught by Mira Marchenko in Moscow. The Russian system certainly produces plenty of superb young pianists. Alexandra combines great technique with a real feeling for the music and a maturity beyond her tender years. She must have worked so hard to get this good so soon.

Genius. Absolutely pure and ego-less playing. I have not heard this caliber of artistry since Richter. What a future you have ahead of you, Miss Dovgan!

Alexandra is the incarnation of musical beauty. The elegance and technical perfection of her play is fascinating.

This girl is something else... known her for quite a while it is mesmerising to see how she takes one step after the other. All the best for your future. I am looking forward to your upcoming „steps“.

Such a refreshing interpretation. What I enjoy about it is that she is takings risks, and at the same time everything is perfectly humble and full of harmony ☀️thank you, Alexandra ❤️

A.Dovgan est La pianiste du 21ème siècle. Elle transmet la flamme. Ca n’a rien à voir avec sa technique, son âge, son humilité, ou la douceur qu’elle dégage. C’est un don, une grâce, ou une mission qu’elle a, qui ne s’explique pas, et qui la rende déjà inaccessibles pour toutes les célébrités actuelles, auxquelles on pourrait vouloir la comparer. Eux jouent, plus ou moins bien avec leur personnalité et la musique qu’ils transmettent, parfois extraordinaires, inspirés, fulgurants, puissants, subtils, impressionnants, ou sur jouant, ou même superficiels… Avec Alexandra Dovgan, on est sur un autre registre, une autre dimension, car elle n’est pas vraiment dans une action démonstrative, une prestation ou une posture, un procédé. Elle ne représente pas vraiment un style, une école, une tradition ou un pays. C’est à la fois plus simple et plus inexplicable. Dès qu’Alexandra Dovgan se met au piano, il se produit un miracle, de l’ordre du constat, de l’évidence. Elle est LA MUSIQUE. C’est tout. Demanderiez-vous au tigre de faire le tigre, au soleil de faire le soleil, ou au ciel de faire le ciel ... ? Ici c’est pareil ; on ne va pas demander à la musique d’être la musique ! …

Моя любимоя соната самое лучшее исполнение спасибо Мира ты лучшая и конечно труд Алексанндры

Best interpretation of Pathétique EVER! The beauty of this should make everyone weep, tears of joy. Alexandra, live long and prosper!

The most impressive thing about this girl is the mixture of personality, seriousness and mature expressiveness that she transmits, apart from her technical mastery. A serious lyricism in someone so young is something very unusual. I hope you have a long and fruitful future as an artist and as a person.

Alexandra, you are a worthy follower of the great Sokolov. Thanks for your depth of understanding great music, humility, and capacity to transmit beauty!

Yes,near perfection.Great artist.Beautiful Soul.Thank You.

You will be soon one of the best pianist in the world. You have all the qualities required. I admire and love your playing.

Beautiful performance Miss. Dovgan. Technically, artistically, and musically. Thank you so very much.

Thank you God for leading me to Alexandra again. I felt so miserable these last days, but listening to Alexandra let me cry from joy. God bless you Alexandra. Thanks 🌷🌷🌷🙏❤️

Спасибо. Замечательно. Храни Вас Бог.

Your playing is like a tender kiss to the soul 💋💞🌺 You light up my heart like a candle🌹

Great rendition. One of the best ever. What a playing technique, what musicianship and sense of style. Exactly the youthful Beethoven. Wonderful Sasha, when I listen to you the world seems better to me, colorfully painted. Thanks a lot!

Sublime performance. My sincere Congratulations.

In fact the whole piece makes more sense now I have heard her play it. Wonderful performance!

Alexandra, Beethoven is here among us expressed with feeling and sweetness by your excellent performance!

Such clean delicate precision

Нет слов, невозможно оторваться от этого звучания!!!

Beautiful beyond belief - thank you.

Not being a classical music fan in particular - I came across your music by accident and the quality of your playing stands out as unique - irrespective of whatever genre you come from.. Then looking back at your very earlier ability - like many others, I'm lost for words. Treasure your gift! and thank you very much Miss Dovgan.

Oh my.... I love Beethoven, and I love you, Sasha. Greetings from México.

Какое зрелое и осознанное исполнение! Браво!

This is just totally wonderful. Have never before heard this Sonata played with such light, shade, power and stillness as Miss Dovgan puts into it. 🙏 💐

One of the best ˝Pathetique˝ I´ve ever heard! Bravo Saša!!!!

Happy birthday to Genius Beethoven! 🌟 Congratulations, Alexandra 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🌹🌹🌹

She is the future , her touch is so clear , keep working with the master Sokolov and you ll be amongst the greatest !

I'm south korean Alexandra dovgan.. you are exactly genius pianist. When i heard your playing Rameu-L Egyptinenne, i totally charmed your performance. Please keep your playing😊🙏🙏

Written by a genius, played to perfection.

Ahhh, my little Alexandra is all grown up!!! and she is now a phenomenal pianist as I predicted a few years back. Thank you for the joy you have brought into my life and may the World always appreciate you for the miracle you are.

Transcendent musicianship and artistry.

Once in a century talent. Looking forward to see her grow as an artist.

Some people come into this world to brighten the lives of billions with sheer genius. This child is one such rare talent - she must have been 12 or possibly 13 years old! Amazing!

Потрясающе!!! Спасибо Вам и Мире Алексеевне!!!!!!

So nice, so perfect ! Thank you Alexandra for this beautiful moment !

The Great ALEXANDRA DOVGAN! I follow her in every Rendition on RU-vid!!! Stunning Little Lady!!!

Любим тебя, Саша! ❤️

Desde Argentina , quiero felicitar a Alexandra , por su hermosa música , que nos Taca alegrando nos el corazón 🌈🌺🌼💞🇦🇷

Здесь просто НЕТ СЛОВ. Почему то я всегда чувствовала,что так должно было бы звучать у молодого Бетховена. Спасибо

Потрясающе! Чудо, необыкновенная музыкальность, каждый звук на своем месте!

An outstanding young pianist!

simply amazing I enjoy every once. Ich kann immer wieder diese wunderbaren Aufnahmen hören und genießen. Danke! 💐 💜🙏

Какое неожиданное прочтение сонаты.Особенно понравилась 1часть.Какая драматургия в главной теме.Очееь глубоко.Совершенно Шекспировские интонации.А в побочной теме 2части ощущается надломленность души.Необыкновенно.Большое спасибо.

Ti faccio i miei complimenti di cuore cara Alexandra Dovgan per condividere questo bellissimo pezzo strumentale di Ludwig van Beethoven 🌟 No. 8 🎹🎶 straordinaria interpretazione ✨Bel modo di suonare il pianoforte 🎹✳️ Ottimo videoclip 🎬🤳 Complimenti e un meritato applauso 👏🎶 Ciao 🇮🇹✔️🤗🌃🌒

Transcendental playing - thank you.

Her voicing is incredible

She can play everything.

Stunning !!!

Спасибо за подарок нам в день рождения Бетховена. Вдохновенно и филигранно,браво!

Сашенька- ты чудо! Не передать словами эмоции, которые испытываешь, когда слушаешь и видишь эту талантливейшую девочку!!! Исполнение прекрасное- тонкое, грамотное!

Très belle performance, très inspirée... belle interpretation. Bravo!

Всё продумано, прочувствовано, каждый звук, каждая пауза. Спасибо Сашеньке, очень светлое видение, без трагедии, без надрыва

She is just extraordinary! Beyond my experience.

Ludwig told me to thank you for the magnificent birthday present... 😉 BRAVISSIMA Alexandra!!! 🌺🌺🌺

Quando avrà maturato esperienze di vita sarà certamente una delle migliori interpreti al mondo

Спасибо за искренность, страсть и труд души , ума и рук!

Невероватно лепо, осетљиво, дивно. Веч толико велика!

Настолько проникновенно и искренне! Дорогая Саша, поздравляю! 🤍🎹🖤

Extraordinary performance! A total and extremely deep understanding of the piece, something very rare. You are an incredible musician, Alexandra. Molodets!

Congratulations for this absolutely precise and matured performance, nothing having to do with her age!

огромное спасибо)

Превосходно,грандиозно,красиво! Восхищаюсь !!! Сашенька,Блеск.

I have never heard a more expressive interpretation of this piece. The second movement moved me to tears. I felt as if the music simply flowed through her arms, hands and fingers straight to my ears. I wasn’t aware of the piano as instrument, at all, it was simply the receiver of the perfect music flowing from this amazingly gifted young woman. I feel she may astound us with increasingly sophisticated, new interpretations of classic pieces, perhaps setting the style for a generation or so. My gut tells me they only come this good, once or twice in a lifetime.

Браво! Молодец!

I have been waiting for this ever since your 11th birthday. I taught myself to play this 70 years ago during my summer vacation. When I went back to university in the Fall, I played it for my piano teacher. She told me she could not teach me anymore. It became my show piece the rest of my life. Thank your so much for your playing it. Of course, your playing is infinitely better than mine. God Bless You.

Parabéns Alexandra! Acompanho você há tempos. Beethoven deve estar sorrindo para você 💝 👏👏👏

Удивительно просто, искренно, но оч проникновенно! Какой-то человечный, душевный Бетховен! Спасибо большое!

I'd love to see her play all the beethoven sonatas one day

Grandissima Alexandra. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🌹💐❤

Прекрасное исполнение!!! Такая Глубина, искренность, каждый звук- волшебство!!!Играет- Сама Душа!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Wonderful !👍💖

So beautiful! Crystal clear and dramatic, little pedal... Pathos comes out from the notes (and you can hear all of them), from the structure and harmony... not from sonic mud. Steady tempos, so well mantained, add to the suggestion of fatality. Greetings from Italy! Marco

Dovgan bleibet meine Freude.

Astonishing!

Now here’s the way it should be played!

Наконец то! Давно ждал этой сонаты полностью!

Une pure merveille ! Bravo et merci, Alexandra!

Brava. Suoni Beethoven in modo straordinario.

Genial.

Хотел бы я, чтобы в этой сонате было столько же покоя и тепла, сколько y Teбe. Прекрасно!

Beethoven must be dancing with joy!

Браво, Саша! 👏🥰👍💐🎁

Alexandra, desde pequena toca obras muito complexas. Seu corpo se mete dentro da música. É UMA ESTRELA INCRÍVEL!!! MEUS PARABÉNS!!!!💞🌹💐🇧🇷

Wonderful !

Genial Alexandra !!! 💙

Так быстро выросла ,совсем недавно была маленькой ! .... Хрустальные звуки, исполнение прекрасное!

Bravooooo! 🌹

Exquisite! Heavenly ...such a gift ,.. grateful to witness

She is unique , play original , listen what she play is like in another space , totally exitence wth her and music .

AWESOME! I'm so, very humbled by *ALL* her performances: отлично сработано. :D Ken