The best recital you have ever attended?

[iumonito]

Mine was Ivo Pogorelich in Caracas in the late 80's.  He played Brahms Op 79 ## 1 and 2, the Liszt sonata and Chopin's Preludes Op. 28.  As an encore (just one) he played Scriabin Poem Op. 32 # 1.

Unforgettable.

[perfect_pitch]

The only major composer who has ever come to Perth in the last 10 years as far as I know was David Helfgott. Sadly enough.... that's the only one I have ever seen as well.

[spirithorn]

Ashkenazy, early 80's.  Rachmaninov:  Variations on a Theme of Corelli, a set of Etude Tableaux;  Chopin: a set of Noctures, 4th Ballade.
One encore, Rach Prelude in G minor.
Exquisite!

[Jacey1973]

The best recital(s) so far (i havent been to that many piano recitals):

Freddy Kempfy - Beethoven Appasionata and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibiton - the latter was amazing, more so because i'd never heard the original Pics@Ex for piano, only the orchestral version which is overplayed (in fact i'm about to go see the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra play it tonight - probably at least the 10th time i've seen it lol!)

I'm off to see Aldo Ciccolini play a recital on Sunday (Chopin 2 nocturnes, sonata no 3 in b minor, Ravel Valses noble et sentimentales and da Falla 4 Spanish pieces - really lookng forward to this programme) i also will be seeing Andras Schiff (Beethoven cycle) and Emanuel Ax lay recitals later in the season.

[pianohopper]

Haven't seen it yet, but Emanuel Ax is coming to town, am looking forward to that one.  But we really dont' get that many big name recitals up here.

Actually, it's been many many years since the Eastman theater has had a solo recital.

[pita bread]

Haven't seen it yet, but Emanuel Ax is coming to town, am looking forward to that one.  But we really dont' get that many big name recitals up here.

Actually, it's been many many years since the Eastman theater has had a solo recital.

I saw Emanuel Ax and Yefim Bronfman perform a piano duo concert- absolutely amazing.

Setlist:

Schumann - Canonic Etudes
Debussy - En Blanc et Noir
Ravel - La Valse
Stravinsky - Rite of Spring

Encore - Some Brahms piece

Hopefully I'll get to see Lang Lang play the Bartok Piano Concerto #2 and Jean Yves Thibaudet play Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit next year.

[arensky]

Vladimir Horowitz, 1979. The program included the Schumann Humoreske op.20, Rachmaninov Barcarolle in g minor and Humoresque in G major and Consolation in Db and Mephisto Waltz by Liszt. Encores included Etincelles by Moszkowski and Polonaise in Ab op.53 by Chopin. 

[thierry13]

Vladimir Horowitz, 1979. The program included the Schumann Humoreske op.20, Rachmaninov Barcarolle in g minor and Humoresque in G major and Consolation in Db and Mephisto Waltz by Liszt. Encores included Etincelles by Moszkowski and Polonaise in Ab op.53 by Chopin. 

Amazing ... but I wasn't even born 

[pianistimo]

am going to hear helene grimaud on the 11th (i believe).  she's playing rach 2.  will be interesting to hear for the first time.

i heard my teacher, carl cranmer, in philadelphia and thought of all the pianists i've heard - he was the best.  i liked the intimate seating in the ballroom (near kimmel center) and actually prefer that over fancy halls.  we were only sitting two rows back - and probably 5 feet away at the most.  i sat on the piano keyboard side (of course).  also, i liked what he played (faure nocturne #4 and other nocturnes).  he has very intense playing and never seems to make a mistake.  he's basically genius level.  i would say i'd listen to him as much as ivo pogorelich or whomever comes to town.  he plays in a 1/2 french, 1/2 modern way - discreet, tasteful, modern rep, modern approach, not too much motion, but a lot of emotion in the music. 

once went to nyc with my teacher and a bunch of students to hear several piano concerts.  that was also a highlight of my listening.  to hear music in a really good concert hall (carnegie).  it was amazing, even from the balcony what one could hear.  despite this - i still prefer the intimate settings because you come away feeling like you ARE the music.  you are wrapped up in it.

[principe7613]

best one recently....? would be Grygory Sokolov in Hannover with Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Volodos in Brussels with Rachmaninov;

and really recently (that's about 2 weeks ago) I saw a stunning performance of the Schumannconcerto by Mitsuko Uchida and London Phil with Sir Colin D.

[burstroman]

It is not my favorite concerto, but I heard Bruno Gelber in the Rach.3 years ago at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, and I was astounded by the power of his playing.

[fnork]

Having moved to Cracow recently, I've been at the filharmony once, and it was a really great concert. The whole recital was devoted to Shostakovich chamber music - the two piano trios (played by Wanderer trio), the piano quintet, and songs for piano trio and soprano. I had never heard the piano quintet or the piano trios in their entirety, and the quintet was really beautiful! I loved the first trio as well... I didn't like the songs though, but it's just a matter of personal taste.

[mwarner1]

Garrick Ohlsson -- LvB Opp. 109, 110, 111.