Emanuel Ax

[randmc]

I find he's simply one of the best pianist of our modern time. I recently bought a Brahms CD of his (Op. 118 and 79) .......the expression he put into those pieces was wonderful! He makes the pieces so colorful. What are your opinions on him?

[pabst]

I certainly did not listen to enough of his solo recordings, it was mostly chamber ensembles. And I have to say, he sounds very ordinary to me, and his rendition of the Rach cello sonata with Yo Yo Ma is possibly the most mediocre out there (both the cello and the piano part). I'll look into this.

[practicingnow]

He gets the job done

[lisztisforkids]

I find he's simply one of the best pianist of our modern time. I recently bought a Brahms CD of his (Op. 118 and 79) .......the expression he put into those pieces was wonderful! He makes the pieces so colorful. What are your opinions on him?

Yes, Emanuel Ax is great! He is probaly my favorite living pianist. I've got him playing Brahms Op. 117, Op. 119 and the second sonata in f sharp, and the Beethoven concerto's. He has   a very colorful way of playing the piano.

[bronwyn87]

i have a recording of him playing brahms' handel variations and the op. 118 set - omg its sooo good.  I'm working on the pieces from 118 right now, and i listen to that recording ALL the time.  i've heard lots of recordings of those pieces, but most of them are overly romantic and i don't think that Ax plays like that.

[randmc]

i have a recording of him playing brahms' handel variations and the op. 118 set - omg its sooo good.  I'm working on the pieces from 118 right now, and i listen to that recording ALL the time.  i've heard lots of recordings of those pieces, but most of them are overly romantic and i don't think that Ax plays like that.

Yes that's the cd that I have

[prometheus]

He plays some concerto's other people generally don't dare to touch.

[arensky]

I find he's simply one of the best pianist of our modern time.

I entirely agree. I've heard him live twice, 25 years apart. The first time he was a promising young artist, hard to tell if he would make it or not. I saw him in recital two years ago, it was one of the best piano recitals I've ever heard, in the top 10 for sure. It was an unusual and unusualy demanding program; Debussy Images I and II, 3 pieces by Rameau including l'Egyptienne, and Ravel Valses Nobles e Sentimentales. The second half was the Four Scherzi of Chopin. This recital was some of the most concentrated and focused live playing I have ever heard from any pianist; and yet it was all so natural and easy, no being hit over the head with the "artist's concepts" and no meretricious show-off spewage (even Horowitz my idol was guilty of this). I remember thinking that this is what Rubinstein must have sounded like in person; a great pianist entirely in the service of the music and yet not stilted or academic or "holier than thou"; and it was also virtuoso playing of the highest order, really hair raising when it needed to be.

If he's in your area playing, GO. You'll probably be glad you did....