All Encompassing Pianist(s)

[mikey6]

I have the idea that no pianist can play everything equally well.  I was trying to think of someone who could and can't.
I guess it's going to come down to subjectivity.  Examples-
Argerich and Richter playing Mozart don't go for me.
Can't imagine Brendel playing Messaien
Perahia playing Prokofiev
Horowitz...well, I don't really like Horowitz so....It's subjective as I said 

[arensky]

I have the idea that no pianist can play everything equally well.

I agree, every artist has their strong points and weak points. But the greatest artists are good at everything. The fact that they are great artists means they can pick and choose what they want to play, so they gravitate towards what they like, which is usually their strong points. They didn't get to be great artists by putting their bad foot forward. 

 I was trying to think of someone who could and can't.
I guess it's going to come down to subjectivity.

I can't, and it usually does. We all like what we like.

 Examples-
Argerich and Richter playing Mozart don't go for me.

I enjoy both of them in Mozart, although it isn't what we've been taught to expect from a "correct" (what's that?) Mozart interpretation. Richter's Mozart d minor Concerto is my favorite recording of that work and Martha's K.576 is masterful, as is her (not Mozart but close)  Beethoven 1st Concerto.

But if I had the chance to see either of them in a Concerto I would want to hear them in Prokofiev or Rachmaninov, hear the full range of their playing and hear them; well, really tear it up.  I heard Andre Watts play Beethoven 1, and it was REALLY great but I kept thinking "I wish he was playing Totentanz".

Can't imagine Brendel playing Messaien

I can and don't care to 

Perahia playing Prokofiev

I heard him play the Bartok Suite Op.14 and it was great. Don't know why he doesn't play more 20th Century lit. I suspect his managers and record producers guided him away from it, or that he felt more simpatico with Mozart, Schumann and Chopin. And because he's Perhaia, the choice was his to make.

Horowitz...well, I don't really like Horowitz so...

                                                  

It's subjective as I said     

Indeed it is. 

[richard black]

From what I've read, and heard on rolls and discs, I guess Busoni may be the nearest approximation to the true all-rounder.

[opus10no2]

If one were to go by the rolls, Busoni had the greatest dex ever. 

[rob47]

John Ogdon?

[opus10no2]

https://www.dasdc.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=124719#124719

tha robbah

[rob47]

mostly

[ahinton]

John Ogdon?

Exactly who I was about to mention but you beat me to it!...

Best,

Alistair

[gerryjay]

John Ogdon?

quite a great pianist!

[gerryjay]

one name that occurs me is glenn gould. he had a very large repertory span, and although it's very debatable if he did play everything well, he had such a personal signature to everything.

btw, another pianist i must mention is mitsuko uchida. she doesn't qualify to the all-round prize, but when i think of her mozart, chopin, debussy and schoenberg performances...well, that's a lot of diversity and she is perfect and brilliant in all of them.

[general disarray]

Joyce Hatto

[opus10no2]

[general disarray]

   (you're totally out of control, opus)

Oh, almost forget, how about Walter Gieseking?  No slouch.  And an honorary SDC member.

[mikey6]

  (you're totally out of control, opus)

Oh, almost forget, how about Walter Gieseking?  No slouch.  And an honorary SDC member.

Haven't heard, but according to what I read, sucked at Ravel.

John Ogdon?

Can't imagine him playing Bach or Mozart - looks like too much of a beast of a man, then again that makes absolutely no difference what so ever. 

[0range]

Does Koji do any Bach? He would come to mind.

Arrau and Richter had pretty impressive repertoires too.

[thierry13]

Joyce Hatto

She's fake.

[musicgirl-2004]

HI everybody .I am a young teacher from China .
Hope you guys would like to make friends with  me

My email is :pianobanana@hotmail.com

[lelle]

Roland Pöntinen

Heard him play
Mozart
Beethoven
Chopin
Albeniz
Rachmaninoff
among others

liked it all so far

[richard black]

Roland Pöntinen

He is indeed a mighty fine pianist. Apart from anything else, I admire him for the seriousness with which he approaches repertoire others may regard and hardly worth attention - he's done some lovely things with little miniatures most often considered only as kids' stuff.

[franzliszt2]

I seen Aimard play Schumann and it wasn't very good. Then he played amazing Ligeti in the 2nd half

[gerryjay]

I seen Aimard play Schumann and it wasn't very good. Then he played amazing Ligeti in the 2nd half

i heard him playing last monday (bbc proms chamber music), and the program was schumann (gesange der fruhe), carter (night fantasies), messiaen and bartok (out of doors). well, although i didn't dislike the schumann, there is no comparison to his performances of carter and bartok, where his is absolutely outstanding.

btw, it's still online (until sunday i guess): https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00clzft

enjoy!

[alpacinator1]

Lang Lang fo'sho

[hansscherff]

I actually do like gilels in most i heard from him, which encompasses composers ranging from bach to medtner and prokofiev, i havent heard all of his recordings yet though.

[mikey6]

I actually do like gilels in most i heard from him, which encompasses composers ranging from bach to medtner and prokofiev, i havent heard all of his recordings yet though.

His Chopin's not great from what I remember.

[franzliszt2]

Hamelin!No matter what he plays, it sounds the same, therefore he is all encompassingly boring

[hansscherff]

His Chopin's not great from what I remember.

I can imagine him being a bit too 'firm' in his tone for some chopin pieces yes, but for example the op. 53 polonaise i heard from him was one of the best in my opinion. I'd like to know what chopin you like him less in though, i'm curious!

Hans

[mikey6]

bm sonata, From what I remember, haven't watched it in ages though.
Even my teacher whos favourite pianist is Gilels agreed that his Chopin would not be the best.

[thracozaag]

His 3rd sonata, 1st ballade and  Andante Spinato performances are among the finest I've ever heard.

[mikey6]

It's all subjective