Piano Forum

Poll

Self explanatory I hope!

Martha Argerich
Maurizio Pollini
Andrei Gavrilov
Ivo Pogorelich
Murray Perhaia
Alfred Brendel
Helene Grimaud
Boris Berezovsky
Emannuel Ax
Francesco Libetta
Arkady Volodos
Cyprien Katsaris
Ingolf Wunder
Malcom Binns
Stephen Hough
Lang Lang
Andras Schiff
Daniel Barenboim
Andre Watts
Yundi Li
Pavel Raikerus
Tamas Vasary
Evgeny Kissin
Dubravka Tomsic
Keith Jarett
Radu Lupu
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Leif Ove Andsnes
Mikhail Pletnev
Angela Hewitt
Marc-Andre Hamelin
Ivan Moravec
Aldo Ciccolini
Krystian (sp?) Zimmerman
Grigori Sokolov
Phillipe Entremont
Nelson Freire
Nikolai Demidenko
Dmitri Alexeev
Barry Douglas
Piotr Anderszewski
Mei Ting
Koji Atwood
Hung Kuan Chen
Piers Lane
Earl Wild
Elena Kuschnerova
Stephen Coombs
Nikolai Lugansky
Leslie Howard
Yefim Bronfman
Walter Hautzig
Ronald Turini
Pierre Laurent Aimard
Mitsuko Uchida
Louis Lortie
Anton Kuerti
Kemal Gekic
Valentina Litsita
Wibi Soerjadi
Ian Pace
Hakon Austbo
Alicia de Larrocha
Mikhail Pletnev
Idil Biret

Topic: The greatest living pianist.  (Read 43235 times)

Offline phil13

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1395
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #100 on: September 26, 2006, 10:18:40 PM
Who would like this poll reopened? Post yay if so. If there is an adequate positive response it will be so, perhaps with some other modifications in addition to the one quoted above.

I would. There aren't even 10 votes for any single pianist yet.

Phil

Offline csy

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 45
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #101 on: September 27, 2006, 05:24:22 AM
Grigory Sokolov the greatest.... pianist alive.
Ivo Pogorelich the most interesting~ pianist alive

Offline brewtality

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 923
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #102 on: September 27, 2006, 07:47:50 AM
who the smeg nominated piers lane?

Offline infectedmushroom

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 304
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #103 on: September 27, 2006, 09:05:10 AM
Ivo Pogorelich.



The most interesting one: Kemal Gekic !

Offline avetma

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 331
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #104 on: September 27, 2006, 09:09:50 AM
Ivo Pogorelich.



The most interesting one: Kemal Gekic !

agree.

Offline jakev2.0

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 809
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #105 on: September 27, 2006, 02:05:38 PM
1. Kuerti (true musician, superb pianist, one of the best Schubert players)
2. Berezovsky (probably the best all-round virtuoso alive. the world should watch closely what this man records and where and what he plays in concert)
3. Lugansky (amazing control of dynamics and touch - especially when he plays very fast)
4. Pletnev (Probably the most important composer/conductor pianists alive
5. Ashkenazy (hasn't done anything of value in a while, but was pretty awesome in his prime)

Honourable mentions to: Freire, Volodos, Weissenberg, Gavrilov.

Offline thaicheow

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 114
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #106 on: September 29, 2006, 03:52:13 PM
Idil Biret.

Mitsuko Uchida.

Offline phil13

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1395
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #107 on: September 29, 2006, 04:29:31 PM
Madge.




































just kidding.  :-*

Phil

Offline Kassaa

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1563
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #108 on: September 29, 2006, 06:33:39 PM
PERAHIA!!!!!!
No. He plays like a sissy, always this careful soft touchy tone that is really annoying. For example his coda of his fourth Chopin ballade, soooo boring.

Offline phil13

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1395
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #109 on: September 29, 2006, 10:30:26 PM
No. He plays like a sissy, always this careful soft touchy tone that is really annoying. For example his coda of his fourth Chopin ballade, soooo boring.

However, I really like the way Perahia plays Bach's English Suites.

Phil

Offline pies

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1467
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #110 on: September 30, 2006, 12:19:08 AM
Idil Biret.
Have you heard her Ligeti recording? Absolutely awful. Beyond awful.

Offline mikebechstein

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 64
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #111 on: October 03, 2006, 04:55:42 AM
The greatest LIVING pianist (the best classical all rounder) is, without doubt….

Murray Perahia.

If you were talking about specific pieces or genres though, then the discussion will be endless. How can you judge a pianist on a particular piece or even a few recordings?
Più Vivo

Offline jre58591

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1770
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #112 on: October 03, 2006, 05:37:12 AM
The greatest LIVING pianist (the best classical all rounder) is, without doubt….

Murray Perahia.
hahahahahahaahahaaaahaahahah

i said not to dispute hamelin's position.

Quote from: phil13
Madge.
haha i had a good laugh from this too.
Please Visit: https://www.pianochat.co.nr
My YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=jre58591

Offline brewtality

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 923
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #113 on: October 05, 2006, 10:05:13 AM
Berezovsky is my favourite I think. Don't really listen to many living pianists or rather don't like many of them.

Offline pianistimo

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 12143
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #114 on: October 05, 2006, 10:57:52 AM
i think i'll vote koji atwood.  genius doesn't have to be so old.  but, in terms of long term respect - ashkenazy.  and, for somebody in the middle - of course, barry douglas.

Offline mikebechstein

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 64
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #115 on: October 05, 2006, 11:42:47 AM
It would be interesting to see whether we are stating our Favorite pianist or whether we are actually being objective. We can all pick a favorite pianist easily enough (and I would definitely not pick Perahia as my favorite by the way, even if I do think he is the greatest all rounder).

If we are being objective then we must all be using different criteria to judge the worth of a pianist. I like Pogoralich and Hamelin a lot, but I can’t see that they have done enough to be judged as the greatest living pianist. If technique is the major criteria then yes Hamelin stands a good chance. If transporting us to a place that only a few musicians can, then he doesn’t seem to. Other than his technique being effortless what do you hear about him in reviews and experience from his recordings? Good musicianship – yes. Best alive – no.

To judge who is the best pianist alive you cannot let preference for one or two aspects take over your decision making. From the list above, for me, only two pianists have been around long enough and done enough to prove that they are contenders for greatest living pianist and those are Argerich and Perahia.
Più Vivo

Offline thalbergmad

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 16730
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #116 on: October 05, 2006, 11:49:03 AM
Ian Pace
Curator/Director
Concerto Preservation Society

Offline brewtality

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 923
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #117 on: October 05, 2006, 11:56:06 AM
Ian Pace

The neonazi mouthpiece of Hamas.


If we are being objective then we must all be using different criteria to judge the worth of a pianist.

Obviously we can't be very objective. Beyond a certain level (hitting the notes etc), subjectivity should be assumed

 
Quote
If transporting us to a place that only a few musicians can, then he doesn’t seem to.

and perahia does? *shudders*

He would be a worthy selection (along with brendull and pollini) as the most boring living pianist.

Quote
From the list above, for me, only two pianists have been around long enough and done enough to prove that they are contenders for greatest living pianist and those are Argerich and Perahia.

er just no. Perahia hasn't been around as long as say Radu Lupu, Argerich hasn't been around as long as Pollini. Btw I wouldn't nominate any of the four as the greatest, just showing that even amongst the famous it isn't as cut and dry as you seem to think.

Offline demented cow

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 132
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #118 on: October 05, 2006, 12:34:56 PM
I can't decide between the following:
Argerich (I realised she is a musician when I heard her Beethoven 101)
Pogorelich
Katsaris
Of those alive, they are the people who have blown my head off the most, plus they are all big technicians and excell at various types of repertoire.

Honorable mention to several other people, including
Hamelin
Moravec (underrated)
Zimmerman
Gavrilov

As with most opinions, this is to be taken with a grain of salt because I haven't heard some important people on the list (Kuerti, Hewitt, Watts...)

Offline mephisto

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1645
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #119 on: October 05, 2006, 01:57:14 PM
The neonazi mouthpiece of Hamas.

Obviously we can't be very objective. Beyond a certain level (hitting the notes etc), subjectivity should be assumed

 
and perahia does? *shudders*

He would be a worthy selection (along with brendull and pollini) as the most boring living pianist.

er just no. Perahia hasn't been around as long as say Radu Lupu, Argerich hasn't been around as long as Pollini. Btw I wouldn't nominate any of the four as the greatest, just showing that even amongst the famous it isn't as cut and dry as you seem to think.


I dissagree with you calling so good pianist bad.

Offline ahinton

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 12144
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #120 on: October 05, 2006, 03:49:51 PM
Perahia hasn't been around as long as say Radu Lupu, Argerich hasn't been around as long as Pollini
Perahia, Murray          b New York, 19 April 1947
Lupu, Radu                 b Galati, 30 Nov 1945
Pollini, Maurizio           b Milan, 5 Jan 1942
Argerich, Martha         b Buenos Aires, 5 June 1941
The facts show that (a) whilst Perahia hasn't been around as long as Lupu, the age gap between them is less than 18 months and (b) whilst Argerich has actually been around for longer than Pollini, the age gap between them is a mere 8 months; the lengths of time that these artists have "been around" would therefore appear to prove or imply little if anything of import.

Ian Pace
The neonazi mouthpiece of Hamas.
Do you have something against Hamas?
Do you have something against Ian Pace?

Best,

Alistair
Alistair Hinton
Curator / Director
The Sorabji Archive

Offline mephisto

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1645
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #121 on: October 05, 2006, 05:47:39 PM
I know almost nothing about him.

And I have no idea why you even asked.

Offline ahinton

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 12144
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #122 on: October 05, 2006, 08:14:09 PM
I know almost nothing about him.

And I have no idea why you even asked.
I asked only because there seems to have been a sequence of posts that may be seen as having purported to include remarks that could (or may by someone among the posters to have been intended) to be interpreted as connoting certain negative sentiments about Mr Pace. Rather than offering any kind of value judgements, accusations or defences, I am merely asking any forum member who might subscribe to, or believe that they may identify with, any or all of those remarks to come forward and say why; I was not in any sense directing that particular question at you personally and, at the same time, I note with interest and acceptance the content of the responase that you have made here on the subject concerned.

Best,

Alistair
Alistair Hinton
Curator / Director
The Sorabji Archive

Offline jre58591

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1770
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #123 on: October 05, 2006, 10:07:51 PM
i just heard hamelin's new brahms 2nd concerto CD, and its more proof that he, indeed, is one of the best living pianists, if not number one.
Please Visit: https://www.pianochat.co.nr
My YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=jre58591

Offline brewtality

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 923
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #124 on: October 06, 2006, 12:11:17 AM
Perahia, Murray          b New York, 19 April 1947
Lupu, Radu                 b Galati, 30 Nov 1945
Pollini, Maurizio           b Milan, 5 Jan 1942
Argerich, Martha         b Buenos Aires, 5 June 1941
The facts show that (a) whilst Perahia hasn't been around as long as Lupu, the age gap between them is less than 18 months and (b) whilst Argerich has actually been around for longer than Pollini, the age gap between them is a mere 8 months; the lengths of time that these artists have "been around" would therefore appear to prove or imply little if anything of import.

Why tell me this? I was merely responding to the other bloke, it means nothing to me also. He was the one who brought in this notion of "being around". And I might have guessed you would be so pedantic as to compare ages, when really I was talking in terms of rise to prominence (ie fame, which mikebechstein seems to value). 

Do you have something against Hamas?

I dissagree with you calling so good pianist bad.

What are you talking about Meph? which "so good pianist" did I call bad? The Ian Pace comment was an allusion to this:

https://tinyurl.co.uk/perl

and before ahinton replies, no this has little of "import" in relation to his pianism.

Offline brahmsian

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 262
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #125 on: October 06, 2006, 02:58:45 AM
Hamelin

Honerable mention: Berezovsky, Lugansky, Zimmerman
Chuck Norris didn't lose his virginity- he systematically tracked it down and destroyed it.

Offline thierry13

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2292
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #126 on: October 06, 2006, 03:54:15 AM
Hamelin

Honerable mention: Berezovsky, Lugansky, Zimmerman

Agreed.

Offline mephisto

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1645
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #127 on: October 06, 2006, 06:10:06 AM
brew: Do you mean that Ian Pace is an anti-semite? I have read some of his comments there now and they are GREAT.

Palestinians are semits, kurds and Iranians are semits, If Ian Pace is pro-palestinian than he can't be an anti-semite.

Sorry I don't know what you ment.


Pluss I don't consider Pollini a bad pianist, some of his performances are not to my taste and he was beter when he was younger.


Greatest "young" pianists:

Berezovsky
Andsnes
Hamelin
Voldoso
Lugansky

old:
Freire
Many others were better before.

Offline arensky

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2324
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #128 on: October 06, 2006, 06:19:16 AM
Okay people are posting so it's open again.

Last years final results were

1st place Martha Argerich, 8 votes or 12.5% of the total
2nd Place Vladimir Ashkenazy and Marc Andre Hamelin, 7 votes 10.9% of the total
3rd Place Murray Perhaia and Alfred Brendel, 5 votes 7.8% of the total

4th place Lang Lang, 4 votes or 6.3% of the total

5th place Evgeny Kissin and Maurizio Pollini, 3 votes or 4.7% of the total

6th place Grigory Sokolov, Ivo Pogorelich, Arkady Volodos, Mikhail Pletnev, Krystian Zimmerman, 2 votes or 3.1% of the total.

7th place Boris Berezovsky, Emannuel Ax, Francesco Libetta, Cyprien Katsaris, Andre Watts, Radu Lupu, Leif Ove Andsnes, Angela Hewitt, Ivan Moravec, Barry Douglas, Yefim Bronfman, Walter Hautzig or 1.6% of the total.

All other pianists recieved no votes. I said before that I would remove these candidates but I'm going to leave them in, with the exception of Alicia de Larrocha, who has retired at the age of 80. If anyone hears of the retirement, death or incapacitation of any of these pianists please let me know.

I'm going to leave this open at least until 1/7/07, possibly longer. I am adding some pianists, and this is very important; IF YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NOT LISTED, SAY SO IN A POST AND I WILL ADD THEM. So don't vote for someone else because your choice is not here.

 You may only vote ONCE. (see above) So vote carefully, because you may not vote often.  :)

Do discuss and campaingn for your favorite, citing performance/recordings/etc., the debate is what makes this interesting, and who knows you may persuade undecided parties.

Let da game begin  8)
=  o        o  =
   \     '      /   

"One never knows about another one, do one?" Fats Waller

Offline brewtality

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 923
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #129 on: October 06, 2006, 07:04:19 AM
brew: Do you mean that Ian Pace is an anti-semite? I have read some of his comments there now and they are GREAT.

Palestinians are semits, kurds and Iranians are semits, If Ian Pace is pro-palestinian than he can't be an anti-semite.

Sorry I don't know what you ment.

Meph, that's understandable. I didn't really mean anything by that comment. While I was posting my reply to bechstein, Thalbergmad posted "Ian Pace" so I posted "the neonazi mouthpiece of Hamas". It wasn't even really a joke, just a random comment. Politically, I agree with almost everything he says on RMCR. Funnily enough, musically, I agree with almost everything Samir says.

Quote
Pluss I don't consider Pollini a bad pianist, some of his performances are not to my taste and he was beter when he was younger.

I don't consider him a bad pianist, just not very stimulating.


Quote
Greatest "young" pianists:

Berezovsky
Andsnes
Hamelin
Voldoso
Lugansky

old:
Freire
Many others were better before.

I agree with the exception of Volodos. I haven't heard him play well musicially yet. His rach 3 is good but it didn't offer anything I hadn't heard before.

Offline arensky

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2324
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #130 on: October 06, 2006, 07:14:59 AM
=  o        o  =
   \     '      /   

"One never knows about another one, do one?" Fats Waller

Offline mephisto

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1645
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #131 on: October 06, 2006, 07:57:52 AM
Volodos "sound" is extremely good. But i wasn't really sure about putting him in there for the same reasons as you.

Offline ahinton

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 12144
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #132 on: October 06, 2006, 08:40:45 AM
Why tell me this? I was merely responding to the other bloke, it means nothing to me also. He was the one who brought in this notion of "being around". And I might have guessed you would be so pedantic as to compare ages, when really I was talking in terms of rise to prominence (ie fame, which mikebechstein seems to value).
I wasn't telling YOU this; I was posting to the forum as a whole. Furthermore, whilst I do, of course, fully accept your point about "rise to prominence" as distinct from "age", but again it seems not to apply here in any meaningful sense; I am not aware that there was any significant time gap between the "rise to prominence" of Pollini and Argerich...

Best,

Alistair
Alistair Hinton
Curator / Director
The Sorabji Archive

Offline brewtality

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 923
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #133 on: October 06, 2006, 09:06:25 AM
I wasn't telling YOU this; I was posting to the forum as a whole. Furthermore, whilst I do, of course, fully accept your point about "rise to prominence" as distinct from "age", but again it seems not to apply here in any meaningful sense; I am not aware that there was any significant time gap between the "rise to prominence" of Pollini and Argerich...

Best,

Alistair

Generally when you quote someone, it implies that you are addressing them personally. I never mentioned anything about "significant" time gaps between their respective rises to prominence, my point is that bechstein was incorrect to conclude that by virtue of their having "been around" longer than others Argerich and Perahia were the only candidates worthy of the title.

Offline ahinton

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 12144
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #134 on: October 06, 2006, 10:54:49 AM
Generally when you quote someone, it implies that you are addressing them personally. I never mentioned anything about "significant" time gaps between their respective rises to prominence, my point is that bechstein was incorrect to conclude that by virtue of their having "been around" longer than others Argerich and Perahia were the only candidates worthy of the title.
I accept that it would have been both clearer and more appropriate had I quoted the person who originally made this remark rather than you; I am aware of what you did and did not mention. My point is that, whilst the point at issue was not made by you, it is not a valid point in any case - a fact on which it seems we agree.

I'm sorry if I inadvertently misled you into assuming that I had believed this point to have been made by you personally and that my intention had accordingly been to respond to you personally.

I hope that this clears up any misunderstanding and I apologise if I have caused any.

Best,

Alistair
Alistair Hinton
Curator / Director
The Sorabji Archive

Offline brewtality

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 923
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #135 on: October 06, 2006, 11:11:15 AM

I hope that this clears up any misunderstanding and I apologise if I have caused any.

Best,

Alistair

No, it's fine. For my part, I wasn't trying to be rude, so I apologise if I can across that way.

Offline rob47

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 997
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #136 on: October 06, 2006, 03:00:45 PM
Ronald Turini is one of the greatest living pianists

sadly most people will never get a chance to hear why
"Phenomenon 1 is me"
-Alexis Weissenberg

Offline arensky

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2324
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #137 on: October 06, 2006, 06:18:16 PM
Ronald Turini is one of the greatest living pianists

sadly most people will never get a chance to hear why

Why not? True Horowitz said "he deserves a better place but he is shy and not a pusher" but does he perform at all anymore, outside of lessons and masterclasses? A friend of mine studied with him for a summer and said he was a great pianist, teacher and person.

Perhaps he is happy with the way things are.
=  o        o  =
   \     '      /   

"One never knows about another one, do one?" Fats Waller

Offline sevencircles

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 913
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #138 on: October 06, 2006, 10:28:30 PM
Some clips that confirm the greatness of Volodos. I love the way he cuts of accending runs and his ear for dynamics and tone is stunning.

Too bad that he is so  uneven musically.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lzxQP1cf08

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfV8fZK3YGQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJabzkmFMkg

Offline mikebechstein

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 64
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #139 on: October 07, 2006, 03:48:02 AM
Hello everybody.

When I joined this string originally I stated who I thought my favourite pianist was and why. Some people disagreed (very firmly) with my decision. That is fine and is what discussions are about. I then tried to justify my argument by stating that I thought we had the chance here of really discussing the merits and flaws of certain pianists in a discussion to decide who really was the greatest pianist.

Before and since most posters have just stated that they think pianist A is the best or Pianist B is not so good. Most of the reasoning, however, has been levelled against the disliked pianists (i.e. “Brendul” etc.) Very rarely has anybody said in detail WHY they think a certain pianist is worthy of the crown.

I was hoping, after posting and reading the statements in this string, to have read many other opinions and the reasons for them about other pianists so that maybe I could increase my appreciation of pianism and hopefully start to like even more pianists and therefore have a chance to enjoy their recordings more.

Come on guys, enough with

“I like Pianist A but don’t like Pianist B because he is boring”

and more of

“I think C is the best because his/her technique/touch/sound/concert programming/originality etc, and here are some recordings examples which bear out my arguments…...”

I will start off with stating that I think Moravec is a strong contender as I love his beautiful soundworld. He rarely makes anything but a beautiful sound and his interpretations are very well thought out but never seem too analytical or planned. He manages to remain constantly great in almost all that he records in whatever genre (although I have never heard him in concert). I think his Chopin Mazurkas are almost painfully beautiful (even if they are not quite as idiomatic as, for example, Ignaz Friedman or Rubinstein’s earliest set.) I also think his Frank Prelude Choralle and Fugue is the best modern recording (the best in my opinion is still Cortot.)
Più Vivo

Offline brewtality

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 923
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #140 on: October 07, 2006, 07:06:12 AM
You are new here. The same topics are rehashed/revived all the time (this one was from last yr) on this and other piano forums. When I was new to piano forums (and iirc also when I first joined this board), I explained myself well and made clear that it was just my opinion. After a certain amount of repetition, one grows impatient and resorts to assertions, which could be supported but, giving a lack of interest in the topic, aren’t.

 I’d wager if you were to start a new topic on Lang Lang, there would be a not insignificant number of single sentence posts consisting of pronouncements of hatred, disdain or conversely admiration. The reasons for these strong reactions have no doubt been articulated some time in the past. Should posters have to restate these reasons every time a new member comes and posts a LL topic??

As to Brendel, I am generally indifferent to his playing.

I will offer my opinion of his live Schubert D 960 from London.
The first thing I noticed was that his playing lacks clarity. His pedalling is bad, causing the textures to be blurred which makes it hard to listen to. I note a serious lack of power and fury. But neither is there any warmth or tenderness in the first movement. He has a limited dynamic range.

The second movement is probably the highlight, but that might be Schubert’s doing, it is one of the loveliest things he ever wrote, although often mistakenly (imo) milked for all the pathos it could possibly muster. Brendel’s playing here is fair, except for the omnipresent clarity problems. I also think it is too sonorous at times. And there is some misplaced forcefulness. Dynamically, I don’t think he ever gets to PP.

The final movement lacks feeling, and the furious climax which is one of the best passages in all of music imo, is extremely weak. The left hand provides the tension, and in Brendel’s version it is lacking. His idea of getting fury is to accent the RH chords forcefully from time to time.

 His interpretation is boring. This needs further explanation? Ok, I hear nothing in Brendel’s playing that one cannot hear elsewhere. And frankly I’ve heard this sonata played much better. Do you need examples? Richter at Prague  for one. He managed to play so slowly yet keep all the tension. Fiorentino (studio on APR), his slow movement is gorgeous.

In summary, while his playing here is not bad as such, there are definitely things that can be bettered.

From what I've heard of his playing, the problems here are typical of his pianism. Especially the pedalling and banality.

Offline arensky

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2324
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #141 on: October 24, 2006, 12:20:01 AM
bump
=  o        o  =
   \     '      /   

"One never knows about another one, do one?" Fats Waller

Offline shasta

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 492
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #142 on: October 24, 2006, 06:22:22 PM
Alicia De Laroccha

Can't believe you left her off!      >:(
"self is self"   - i_m_robot

Offline jakev2.0

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 809
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #143 on: October 24, 2006, 06:26:08 PM

Offline zheer

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2794
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #144 on: October 24, 2006, 07:05:12 PM



 Oooooooooooooooo MMMMMMMMmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy  GOD, what the hell was that. :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o


   DANGER DANGER.
" Nothing ends nicely, that's why it ends" - Tom Cruise -

Offline mephisto

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1645
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #145 on: October 24, 2006, 07:24:22 PM


This could be funny, if it was in a "show how bad a composer Stockhausen is" thread. But Pollini obviously loves Stockhausen music(why he does it is beyond me) the same way he loves Bach, Brahms or Beethoven.



That's Pollini.

Offline arensky

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2324
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #146 on: October 24, 2006, 10:56:31 PM
Alicia De Laroccha

Can't believe you left her off!      >:(
Look back to the post when I reopened this; she has retired. If you have not voted, I will put her back in, if you insist.  :)
=  o        o  =
   \     '      /   

"One never knows about another one, do one?" Fats Waller

Offline arensky

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2324
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #147 on: October 24, 2006, 10:58:53 PM

 Oooooooooooooooo MMMMMMMMmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy  GOD, what the hell was that. :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o


   DANGER DANGER.

That was "haw to wipeout classical music! "  ;D
=  o        o  =
   \     '      /   

"One never knows about another one, do one?" Fats Waller

Offline arensky

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2324
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #148 on: October 24, 2006, 11:09:09 PM



That's Pollini.

Incredible.

But no, that WAS Pollini. I think his best playing was when he was very young, like in that vid. I find most of his playing since his Petrushka/Prokofiev 7th record to be  sterile, except for some Mozart and Beethoven (and of course 20th century rep) I've enjoyed. I can't stand his playing in Romantic or "Impressionistic" music.
=  o        o  =
   \     '      /   

"One never knows about another one, do one?" Fats Waller

Offline shasta

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 492
Re: The greatest living pianist.
Reply #149 on: October 25, 2006, 01:07:52 PM
Look back to the post when I reopened this; she has retired. If you have not voted, I will put her back in, if you insist.  :)

Your title said "greatest LIVING pianist..."

She's alive, you know.     :P
"self is self"   - i_m_robot
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