Piano Forum



Enfant Terrible or Childishly Innocent? – Prokofiev’s Complete Piano Works Now on Piano Street
In our ongoing quest to provide you with a complete library of classical piano sheet music, the works of Sergey Prokofiev have been our most recent focus. As one of the most distinctive and original musical voices from the first half of the 20th century, Prokofiev has an obvious spot on the list of top piano composers. Welcome to the intense, humorous, and lyrical universe of his complete Sonatas, Concertos, character pieces, and transcriptions! Read more >>

Topic: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.  (Read 173647 times)

Offline ahinton

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 12144
Alistair Hinton
Curator / Director
The Sorabji Archive

Offline ahinton

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 12144
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #151 on: February 02, 2015, 08:58:18 PM
Polloni is also great. Or at least that's what I've been told... I honestly don't know, because I always fall asleep when he starts playing...
Never heard of Polloni.

Best,

Alistair
Alistair Hinton
Curator / Director
The Sorabji Archive

Offline pianoman53

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1179
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #152 on: February 02, 2015, 10:12:44 PM
Never heard of Polloni.

Best,

Alistair

I assumed you had, since you have heard of, and appreciate, most contemporary bullshit... Anyways, my quote also goes for Pollini.

Offline j_menz

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10148
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #153 on: February 02, 2015, 11:31:39 PM
Never heard of Polloni.

Best,

Alistair

It is a type of luncheon meat sold under that name in Western Australia. My advice wold be to take your acquaintance with it no further than that.
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline ahinton

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 12144
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #154 on: February 03, 2015, 07:37:30 AM
I assumed you had, since you have heard of, and appreciate, most contemporary bullshit...
I think that you grossly overestimate my knowledge. I don't believe that I even know what "contemporary bullshit" is. "Contemporary" with what? What gives you an apparent impression of my familiarity with bovine excrement?

Oh and, by the way, I still haven't heard of Polloni.

Best,

Alistair
Alistair Hinton
Curator / Director
The Sorabji Archive

Offline ahinton

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 12144
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #155 on: February 03, 2015, 07:44:11 AM
It is a type of luncheon meat sold under that name in Western Australia. My advice wold be to take your acquaintance with it no further than that.
Then I shall take your wise advice by considering it as a Perth that I would not go down and a Free mantle that I would be loath to assume, for it would seem to have no ap-Peel whatsoever (and in so saying I assume that the natives wash it down with some local wine in order to take the tastelessness away)...

Best,

Alistair
Alistair Hinton
Curator / Director
The Sorabji Archive

Offline 8_octaves

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 354
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #156 on: March 14, 2015, 06:46:28 AM
Hi all,

the thread-question is very difficult to answer for me, and I thought a while over it, because answers, as we can see, appear as mostly subjective ones, and that's ok and normal, I think!

As far as my "personal", subjective list (not ranked) exists, each of the following persons sometimes, in my mind, can be replaced by others, from the other 10 mentioned at the bottom.

Criteria for me weren't only what I would "personally" estimate as superb pianistic abilities, but also -let's call it:-  a long-lasting, definite "position" in the world of piano-music, and furthermore:

Competitions played a role, too, as did very important teaching-positions in the world of "schools" some of the mentioned obtain(ed). But also creativity, freshness and likeable (!again, very subjective value!)  appearance, fearlessness, coolness / calmness and grace on stage (or, as to be estimated, from recordings) were criteria to put pianists into my personal list. Which now follows:

Ivo Pogorelich
Adam Harasiewicz
Maurizio Pollini
Ingolf Wunder
Marc-Andre Hamelin
Leon Fleisher
Michael Ponti
Daniel Pollack
Martha Argerich
Jörg Demus
______________

(Sometimes, following mood, as I said, each of them is replaceable by each of the following): Stanislaw Bunin, David Helfgott, Murray Perahia, Ivan Davis, Helene Grimaud, Ewa Kupiec, Rudolf Buchbinder, Valentina Lisitsa, Daniil Trifonov, Rafal Blechacz.

Cordially, 8_oct!
"Never be afraid to play before an artist.
The artist listens for that which is well done,
the person who knows nothing listens for the faults." (T. Carreño, quoting her 2nd teacher, Gottschalk.)

Offline stevensk

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 641
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #157 on: March 19, 2015, 01:08:38 PM
who do you think are the top ten pianists in the world.

-What pieces are we talking about? What part of the pieces?  What recording? What concert? When? -Today? Last year? "Top Pianist" in regard of ...what? Phrasings? -Technical brilliance? Deep understanding?

Offline chopinlover01

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2117
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #158 on: April 30, 2015, 02:29:56 AM
Hmm... in no particular order..
-Krystian Zimerman
-Josh Wright
-Daniil Trifinov
-Martha Argerich
-Evgeny Kissin
-Yundi Li (he's an on and off one)
-Ivan Moravec
-Daniel Barenboim
-Vladimir Ashkenazy
-Mitsuko Uchida

Offline toughbo

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 111
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #159 on: May 02, 2015, 11:50:14 AM
Josh Wright in that lineup!?!

Offline chopinlover01

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2117
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #160 on: May 02, 2015, 03:30:51 PM
Josh Wright in that lineup!?!
Indeed. He's not as good as the others but he's still got a lot of good performances.

Offline michael_sayers

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1251
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #161 on: May 02, 2015, 03:47:39 PM
Hi Everyone,

Okay, I've come up with the start of a list. ;D

In no particular order:

Stephen Hough
Michelle Candotti
Giovanni Bellucci
Michael Sayers
Simone Dinnerstein
Seymour Bernstein

I can't think of anyone else to add at the moment, it is too near to nap time. ;D ;D ;D


Mvh,
Michael

Offline pencilart3

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2119
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #162 on: May 13, 2015, 02:27:07 PM
Well I really REALLY like listening to Rafal Belchacz and I've only seen his name once on this "liszt" ;)

I also like

Zimerman
Pollini  (NOT POLLONI IDIOTS)
Ashkenazy

I absolutely despise the one recording I have seen of Hamelin. And I might get to see Krystian Zimerman LIVE on a trip this summer!!
You might have seen one of my videos without knowing it was that nut from the forum
youtube.com/noahjohnson1810

Offline michael_sayers

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1251
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #163 on: May 13, 2015, 04:06:18 PM
And I might get to see Krystian Zimerman LIVE on a trip this summer!!

Hi pencilart3,

That sounds exciting!

There are some pianists I have thought about traveling to hear here in Europe.  I also think about someday doing a Liszt pilgrimmage to at least Weimar, Walensee and Villa d'Este . . .

Walensee -






Mvh,
Michael

Offline pencilart3

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2119
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #164 on: May 13, 2015, 04:29:50 PM
Hi pencilart3,

That sounds exciting!

There are some pianists I have thought about traveling to hear here in Europe.  I also think about someday doing a Liszt pilgrimmage to at least Weimar, Walensee and Villa d'Este . . .

Walensee -






Mvh,
Michael

Thanks Michael!! I will try to not interrupt him with a rubber duck! :P haha

 Hey maybe I can sneak my recorder in and make some MULA!!  $$$$$  HAHAHA JK
You might have seen one of my videos without knowing it was that nut from the forum
youtube.com/noahjohnson1810

Offline michael_sayers

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1251
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #165 on: May 13, 2015, 04:36:36 PM
Thanks Michael!! I will try to not interrupt him with a rubber duck! :P haha

Hi pencilart3,

Well, if you do interrupt him with a rubber duck, I don't think he will be giving you an autograph afterwards!


Mvh,
Michael

Offline jlskiles

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 50
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #166 on: May 20, 2015, 01:54:34 AM
I think that Ashkenazy is definitely one of the best pianists, not by technical ability, but by the massive contributions to music he's made throughout his career. He's become a legend.

Offline blackonwhite

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 89
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #167 on: June 08, 2015, 11:35:17 PM
Pascal Roge
Agerich
Pollini
no particular order there all masters
The piano a string instrument controlled by means of percussion.

Offline schumaniac

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 474
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #168 on: August 11, 2015, 12:23:21 AM
Here's my list. These are all the "old" guys; I'm not sure if the young ones necessarily fall in this category. But we could probably open a separate topic for them.

1) Murry Perahia- he excels in almost everything he plays and is always incredibly controlled + honest as a musician. His Bach Goldbergs and Partitas are great; he also plays Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, Rachmaninoff...
2) Pollini- maybe too objective and analytical for you guys, but his playing is still with soul- he also plays everything from Bach to Beethoven to Chopin to Schoenberg.
3) Sokolov- maybe too "Russian" for everyone's tastes? But he plays everything with such spiritual profundity- he is like a living Richter.
4) Brendel- sure he retired, but hands down one of the great players of Austro-German works + Liszt
5) Uchida- always an incredible Mozart player, a great Beethoven & Schubert player, also a good Chopin player. Everything she plays is with refinement- I also enjoyed reading her International Piano interview/profile

Down the list are Zimerman (great Chopin, duh, but also Beethoven, Schubert, Liszt, Rachmaninoff) and Argerich who is still fiery and temperamental even at her age.

Offline schumaniac

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 474
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #169 on: August 11, 2015, 01:02:11 AM
Oh and:
1) Ashkenazy
2) Thibaudet

Offline vertigoone

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 18
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #170 on: November 15, 2015, 10:01:54 AM
No love for Garrick Ohlsson?

JC
“I will seize fate by the throat; it shall certainly never wholly overcome me.”
― Ludwig van Beethoven

Offline rubinsteinmad

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1689
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #171 on: November 15, 2015, 09:17:57 PM
No love for Garrick Ohlsson?

JC

He's American, and hes also a Juillard graduate. How good can that be? ::)

Offline zpianist

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 84
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #172 on: November 18, 2015, 12:02:58 AM
.

Offline hestiabhn

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 2
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #173 on: September 23, 2021, 03:11:11 PM
Sokolov #1
!!!

Offline anacrusis

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 800
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #174 on: September 23, 2021, 03:38:26 PM
Sokolov #1

Understandable choice. I would probably go for Martha Argerich!

Offline orbulation

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 12
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #175 on: December 22, 2022, 04:06:48 AM
I don't liszten to many pianists, but Valentina Lisitsa(so happy shes posting on yt again ;D) is my all-time favorite, no pianist ive heard i have liked more than lisitsa. Traum follows closely along with Argerich and Kissin.

Offline cuberdrift

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 600
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #176 on: April 17, 2023, 04:57:13 AM
By general consensus, Martha Argerich is the best pianist alive and the only one agreed upon as being able to hold a candle to the legends (Gould, Michelangeli, Horowitz, etc.). I would be surprised to hear anyone claim anyone else as better by public consensus.

Offline chopinlover01

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2117
Re: Top Ten pianists still that are a live.
Reply #177 on: May 10, 2023, 08:57:29 AM
#1) Keith Jarrett
#2) Herbie Hancock
#3) Brad Mehldau


Everyone Else
For more information about this topic, click search below!
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert