Your favourite pianists & why

[kirolak]

Mine are Andras Schiff (I love his Hammerklavier sonata interpretation in particular, & his lyrical tone) & Wolf Harden for his Busoni Fantasia Contrappuntistica interpretation.. . . but I'm not a real pianist (was once an opera singer & as someone said, there are musicians & then there are singers).  But Busoni actually indicated breathing places in certain of his works. . . . would like to hear what the real pros think!

[danhuyle]

Vladimir Ashkenazy - Does everything just right. His recording of Shostakovich Preludes & Fugues Op.87 is a gem.

Yundi Li - Awesome Liszt player. Captures the mood of the music and shows full understanding of how music should be played.

Lang Lang - Awesome showmanship

Ivo Pogorelich - Clean playing, almost feels like there's no pedaling in it. Everything he does works.

I like Andras Schiff for his Mozart piano sonatas. You can feel the opera in his playing.

[ch101]

did horowitz ever have a performance that is not perfect? he is the best

[becky8898]

hi

1. Martha Agerich - its so obvious but Ill say why anyway . From Playing the beethoven first at age 7 with orchestra, which is impossible, but she did it anyway, to winning the Geneva at age 16 to winning the Chopin , to playing the prokofieve third at age 69 like no one I have ever heard. 

2. Valentina Lisitsa  - for putting so much great music up on u tube and making it look so damm easy.

3. Yuja Wang - because she reminds me of me when she was my age now . and she rocks. 

4. Honorable mention.  - LadyPianist who posts on the Audition  board here and played the finest version of Islamy I have ever heard.

Cheers , Becky

[lisztomaniac]

josef lhevinne - awesome etude no 18
richard goode - best beethoven sonatas
claudio arrau - phenomenal liszt
rachmaninov - brilliant interpretations, not chopin though
yundi li - you know why
ME - just kidding 

[ongaku_oniko]

Li yundi

The only pianist I can honestly say will make me lose myself in the music

Arthur Rubinstein

After listening to his playing, when I then listen to Horowitz's version of the same piece, it just doesn't compare. Rubinstein makes Horowitz's interpretations sound like a child messing around on a keyboard (my opinion only)

Vladamir Askenzy

The first version of pictures at an exhibition I ever heard

[countrymath]

Elene Grimaud (smt like that)
Valentina Lisitsa

Cause they're pretty.

[bbush]

Even though I've listened to pianists and piano recordings for more years than most of the members have been alive, this topic is certainly a challenge!  And in my opinion, it warrants some division into specifics at least by composer and/or period.

So, in no particular order, here's a partial list of my fav's with my modifiers:

Artur Rubinstein for Chopin for his taste and clean execution (it's so easy to blur the Romantics, which is why I like Pogorelich for his clarity, too), but also Horowitz on his good days for sheer artistry.

Van Cliburn is generally great (as is Rubinstein) with the Russians Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, and Tchaikovsky for the proper mood and - in his early recordings - the necessary fire; and Roland Pontinen plays Scriabin and Stravinsky very nicely.

Alicia de Larrocha with the Spaniards and Brazilians, of course, with her expressiveness; and Firkusny with the Bohemians for the same reason.

Raymond Lewenthal for his playing of small Alkan works that sing and large ones that project orchestral timbres... and of course for his heroic work to bring out of neglect several fabulous but little-known Romantic composers (after recovering from a brutal attack in which his hands were broken).

Rudolf Serkin seems to produce the right effect for me with his Beethoven, though I can't pin down exactly why.

And at various times with various composers, I've enjoyed Krystian Zimerman's warmth, Shura Cherkassky's transparency and Carol Rosenberger's tone (her big Bosendorfer helps!); I think Murray Perahia's pretty well-balanced, and sometimes Jorge Bolet's Liszt and Misha Dichter's Brahms can move me.

On the other hand, I dislike Andre Previn's playing and never remember being moved by Ashkenazy or Argerich.  And most of the modern wunderkids, with their undeniably great technique, often leave me cold.  I'm thinking of Hamelin and many of the other speedy young virtuosi, 'though I've recently been impressed with Ingolf Wunder's controlled-yet-expressive Chopin at the 2010 Warsaw competition.

Well, there's my two-cents worth,
Bruce

[monsieurdelully]

I so much accept the previous entries iwth their greatest suggestion of the pianists, i adore them, too.But I've recently listened Schumann's Kreisleriana (of course Horowitz is the master in playing this piece:)) from Jonathan Biss.Being young, his interpretation was awesome.

[nataliethepianist]

Hello. My first favorite pianist is Barenboim because he is so expressive with his playing. He knows when to act in a serious manner, or a happy manner.

Another favorite pianist of mine is Richter. He is just amazing! He has these interpretations that just blow my mind. Take a look at his Prelude Op. 23 No. 2. I have not herd a pianist play it as well as he can. He was a very "stubborn" pianist in a way. He never really listened to his teachers, so he was very self taught.

Thank you for the interesting question.

- Natalie

[omar_roy]

Bach:
Glenn Gould for his eccentricity
Andras Schiff for his purity

Beethoven:
Richard Goode for his faithfulness to the composer
Alfred Brendel for his extremely thoughtful playing
Schnabel for his personal insights

Mozart:
Mitsuko Uchida for obvious reasons

Chopin:
There are so many who play him so well! If I could only live with 2 or 3 I would have to choose Vladimir Ashkenazy, Krystian Zimerman, and Ivan Moravec

Rachmaninoff:
Ashkenazy for his Preludes
Horowitz for the Rach 3
Richter for the Rach 2

The composer himself above all else.

Scriabin:
Sofronitsky or Richter

Prokofiev:
Boris Berman and Richter

The list grows too long if i continue hahahah

[ted]

Waller, because nobody before him ever felt rhythm as he did. After him thousands imitated him and still couldn't play as he did.

[perfect_pitch]

Valentina Lisitsa... She has incredibly flexible hands and seems to have the most fluid movement when playing the piano.

She looks so relaxed and she seems to be able to tackle the most incredibly horrendous passages with ease.

[pianisten1989]

Valentina Lisitsa...

I was just about to give some comment about her playing... But you're right - the question was about pianists, not musicians :D:D:D

[emilye]

For me Valentina Lisitsa is good but no really good pianist. I hate when she play Chopin's etudes. Her performances are ... 0 % music. Yuja Wang too.

My fav pianists:

Martha Argerich - the best in the world. I especially like her: 3 Piano concerto by Rachmaninov, 3 Piano Concerto by Prokofiev, 1 PC by Liszt, Chopin's pieces. She is amazing, she can play really fast and really beautiful.

G. Gould

N. Lugansky

sometimes H. Grimaud

V. Ashkenazy

S. Richter

A. de Larrocha

E. Gilels

I. Pogorelich - but only young Pogorelich now I don't like IP enough

V. Horowitz

L. Berman

[djealnla]

Bach:
Glenn Gould for his eccentricity
Andras Schiff for his purity

I'd go a step further and say that they both produced unbelievably pure recordings of Bach.

[pianisten1989]

I've never understood Schiff's Bach... Weird rubato and not my taste at all, but I'm glad someone likes it!

My favourites are:

Gilels... Well, he's Gilels!
Arrau - Many pianists underestimate the audience and plays the melody so much louder than everything else that a death person could hear it. Arrau doesn't. And he also never has the urge to play fast as hell.
Cortot - Never ever ever boring. Wrong notes here and there, but never boring!
Vasary - He's new to me, and I haven't listened to him a lot, but I just like it. Good taste, imo.
Brendel - It's so pure, and intelligent!

Horowitz sometimes play like a God, but sometimes also like a student.
Argerich if obviously very good, but she sometimes plays everything very fast, and it tends to be boring

[john11inc]

Of the pianists who don't specialize in contemporary music, Entremont, Janis, L. Berman, Fischer, Pludermacher and Bolet, all for the same reason: color, deep understanding of the music that they played and uniqueness.

[mintaddiction]

Mine is.... Emil Gilels...

Why? The man was an absolute dream to listen to. Technically & artistically strong, with a persuasive, but genuine passion. Like, you never felt like he was milking it, or putting it on when he played *ahem, Mr LangLang*, but his playing felt so real
 
Total Legend.

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

I could never say who my favourite pianists are. It's too hard to choose. There are way too many pianists in the world, and I am just too indecisive to pick a favourite.

It depends on my mood, and the specific piece of music. I mean I haven't found a pianist who plays my favourite version of every single piece I listen to.  And sometimes I just feel like listening to different interpretations, it's interesting.  

But I guess I've always liked Richter.

And Glenn Gould, like someone mentioned, for his eccentricity. My teacher told me he had "odd" interpretations, but he could pull them off!

And there was a post about the Chopin competition in  2010 somewhere. Well I'm one of those Yulianna Avdeeva fans

Oh and I like *watching* Valentina Lisitsa play, because of how flexible her hands are... she makes everything look so easy...! Not that I don't like how her music sounds, I do, maybe they aren't always my favourites, but I'm just always amazed at how relaxed she is.

[ongaku_oniko]

I have listened to Lisitsa play chopin etudes. Most of them. I can saythat I don't like how she plays any one of them. Doesn't put much emotions, and plays too fast.

But that's just my opinion.


any pianists that are similar to Li Yun Di?

[thalbergmad]

Michael Ponti.

He boldly went where no pianist had gone before and showed us all that great works exist outside of the norm.

Earl Wild.

He started off my love affair with Thalberg.

Richard Meyrick.

He taught me more in 30 minutes than I had learned in the previous 30 years.

Thal

[tsachi]

I love Yuja Wang. Everything she plays comes out so perfect. Her sound is so clear, she has so many colors in her music, her timing is perfect (she knows exactly when and how much to slow down), and she has no technical limitations at all.
When she seats near the piano she has so much energy.
I would have never beleived there is so much power and emotions in her small fragile figure.
Yet she is so young and has achieved so much.
I love everyting she plays but there are some outstanding pieces:
Ravel, La Valse
Stravinsky, petrushka
Brahms, Paganini variations
Mendelson, Piano concerto no. 1
Prokofiev, 2nd and 3rd concertos
Strauss-Cziffra, Polka and Bumblebees
Mozart-Volodos, march
Shubert-Liszt, songs

I also love Ivo Pogorelich. He has a wondeful technique and very original interpretations.

Of course, there are Arcadi Volodos (brilliant cd with original transcriptions and variations), Evgeny Kissin, Valentina Lisitsa (for all the reasons mentioned by others), Krystian Zimerman (best Chopin), Friedrich Gulda (best Mozart and Beethoven), hellen grimaud (wonderful Bach cd) and so many pianists I love.

Bottom line, there are so many wonderful pianists out there.
However, for me Yuja Wang shines high above all of them.

Tsachi


 

 

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Cziffra for his Liszt and the exuberance of his own arrangments.

Berman for some of the most titanic and sonorous pianism I have ever heard.

Bolet for his control of sound; likewise Michelangeli.

Rachmaninov for the polished elegance of his playing.

Lewenthal, Wild, Ponti and Kentner for introducing me to composers I might otherwise never have heard of.

[madvillain]

I seem to have a huge bias toward Russian pianists for whatever reason.  Richter, Sofronitsky, Gilels, Yudina (no mention here yet) and Horowitz (Not sure if he counts as a Russsian in the sense the others would) are the first that come to mind.  Cortot is also absolutely rapturous but also sloppy at times.

[asiantraveller101]

Too many to choose from, since every pianist has his or her own strengths and affinities. However, I find myself returning to Arthur Rubinstein again and again. His playing is sane, warm, sincere, and most importantly, he nourishes my soul! 

[lelle]

Some of my favourites include

Alfred Cortot - for his poetic and interesting itnerpretations, always trying to serve the music the best he could
Roland Pöntinen - most things he does is just so right
Sviatoslav Richter - because of his powerful performances. I prefer late Richter to early Richter though,
Horowitz - very uneven but sometimes he is just amazing

[richterfan1]

Richter, cause he is RICHTER  , others: Horowitz - uinique, Rubinstein - very musical, POGORELICH - VERY UNIQUE

Todays - Martha - gifted, Zimerman - perfection, Valentina Lisitsa - virtuoso,

AND LANG LANG (joke ofc )

[bachbrahmsschubert]

Glenn Gould, in my mind, was the greatest pianist of the 20th century. Not only did his performances of Bach completely shift the world of classical music on its face, he pioneered digital recording of classical music. Everything is so clean, so perfect. Every single voice brought out to perfection, I lose myself in Gould's recordings.

I could name many others, but Brendel and Van Cliburn round out my top 3.

[sevencircles]

Richard Grayson for his ability to play in the style of any composer or improvise fugues on any theme 

Check out the improvised fugue on the James Bond and the pink panther theme below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upFQcITxX9A&feature=related

[bachmaninoff]

Argerich - Doesn't need much of an explanation. From young till old age, her playing ALWAYS sounds energetic, youthful and so FULL of life, whatever she plays.
Kissin - A man who played both Chopin concertos at the age of 12. Beastly, devilish technique founded by his prodigious years, sagacious musicianship crafted by age and maturity, pretty much like a fine wine.
Horowitz - A wizard of the keyboard. Need I say more?
Nikolai Lugansky - Modern day piano giant. VAST repertoire, excellent clean technique, yet such a smooth fine lyrical tone in his playing.

[chopinlover23]

Martha Argerich- I like her because she is known for her powerful and energetic playing, and I'm impressed by her interpretations and recordings. Whenever she plays I feel that she's sitting there beside me and playing, she makes music come to life.

[soitainly]

 Well for me it is Glenn Gould. Just the clarity of the way he brings out each musical line. Sometimes he went off the deep end, but most of his interpretaions just make so much sense. For years I listened to his recordings before I really even considered playing piano, and it was mostly his playing that made me finally start. I have since discovered since that I like lots of other players , but he is still by far my favorite.

[sordel]

Gould for Bach
Uchida for Mozart
Ashkenazy for reliable performances of central repertoire
Lisitsa for YouTube (I don't actually have any of her recordings)
Brad Mehldau for jazz proper

My favourite of all is Keith Jarrett, though. His phrasing is absolutely exquisite in the classical music he performs, and that's before we get started on his jazz.

[thalbergmad]

Yonty Solomon - His Bach and Sorabji are legendary and unique.

Thal

[ahinton]

Yonty Solomon - His Bach and Sorabji are legendary and unique.

Sorry to spoil the party here, but don't you think that anyone offering answers to this one ought first to have heard sufficient evidence before staking his/her claim(s)?...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I don't have to have heard his playing. You yourself commented on the legendary playing.

Who am I to argue when you have spoken.

Thal

[perfect_pitch]

I'm also really surprised no one has mentioned Maurizio Pollini...

The Italian seem to just make every single performance sound mastered (His recording of Stravinsky's Petrushka can not be beat). The only two people on the planet that I believe are really, truly brilliant legends as a piano player ar Lisitsa and Pollini.

[gerryjay]

The list is long, and I agree on many names listed above. One of them, however, is my real number one: Mitsuko Uchida. I really love everything she plays, from Mozart to Schoenberg, from Schubert to Debussy. Now, I was surprised with the most amazing recording of Beethoven's late sonatas.

There are other pianists that I like very much: Michelangeli's Debussy, Gould's Mozart, Pollini's Schoenberg, Richter's Schubert. But Uchida have something very special to me. Not better: special.

The strange thing is that I don't play like her at all. If that was the criteria, my choice would be certainly Richter. What a role model!

Best regards,
Jay.

[hansscherff]

Mine is.... Emil Gilels...

Why? The man was an absolute dream to listen to. Technically & artistically strong, with a persuasive, but genuine passion. Like, you never felt like he was milking it, or putting it on when he played *ahem, Mr LangLang*, but his playing felt so real
 
Total Legend.

Amen! My all-time favorite Gilels.

[hansscherff]

I don't have to have heard his playing. You yourself commented on the legendary playing.

Who am I to argue when you have spoken.

Thal

You two are brilliant, like Laurel and Hardy one knows exactly what is coming, but still i can't help smiling.

[stephenv]

Ellis Larkins (accompanied Ella Fitzgerald)  1953 Gershwin Album and others

Dame Myra Hess   Sypmphonic Etudes ..Schumann  and Beethoven Opus 109.  amazing.

Carol Rosenberger...especially Debussy and Ravel

Horowitz..in his encore pieces when he played Scarlatti...time stood still.

Richter  ..Schumann

De Larroca ...when she plays Granados

Marian MacPartland  an amazing jazz pianist 

All the wonderful new pianists I haven't heard yet.


The "why" ??    I am a sucker for beautiful sound ..and artistry.   Just a personal quirk.




 

[omar_roy]

I've never understood Schiff's Bach... Weird rubato and not my taste at all, but I'm glad someone likes it!

For a while, I too didn't quite "get" his playing.  He takes some weird rhythmic liberties, but they make sense if you familiarize yourself with some recordings of harpsichordists playing Bach's music.  Because they're limited dynamically, they usually take rhythmic liberties to emphasize musical ideas.  Andras Schiff utilizes what he can of both worlds: The dynamic freedom of the piano, and the rhythmic liberties that many harpsichordists and organists take.

[joao975ca]

Grigory Sokolov.
He demonstrates a superb control of every piece he plays, along with the instrument itself. His music is always crystal clear, due to a exceptional use of the pedal.
If you ever have the chance to hear him live, just go! It is unforgettable!

[thalbergmad]

You two are brilliant, like Laurel and Hardy one knows exactly what is coming, but still i can't help smiling.

We look pretty much like them as well.

Thal

[ahinton]

I don't have to have heard his playing. You yourself commented on the legendary playing.

Who am I to argue

Thal - and if you must, that is...

Best,

Alistair

[richard black]

I perhaps find Benno Moiseiwitsch the most all-round astonishing and uplifting pianist - there seemed to be nothing he couldn't do technically, and I just love his phrasing, sound and general musical approach.

[pianovlad1996]

Vladimir Horowitz-his nuances and colours are unique.
Cziffra Gyorgy-his technique was great. A wonderful interpreter of Liszt.
Arthur Rubinstein-great playing, nuances and technique.
Alfred Cortot-unique phrasing.
Emil Gilels- special musicality.
Richter Sviatoslav-superior technique and musicality.
Lipatti Dinu-great interpreter of Chopin.
Rachmaninoff Sergei-a great technique and musicality.
Arturo B. Michelangeli-impecable technique.
Mihail Pletnev-special with russian composers.
Van Cliburn-his playing is sensible.Special with late romantics.
Glen Gould-"master of Bach".
Martha Argerich-wonderful playing(musicality&technique).
Claudio Arrau-a special musicality.
Kissin Evgeny-child prodigy, grat technique and musicality.
Vladimir Ashkenazy-special with Rachmaninoff. Great musicality.
Nikolai Lugansky-one of the best interpreters of Rachmaninoff.
Valentina Lisitsa-flexible playing, great control&technique.
Daniel Barenboim-wonderful interpreter of Beethoven.
Wilhem Kempff-great interpreter of Beethoven.
Dan Grigore- great musicality.
Radu Lupu-great interpreter of Schumann, Chopin, Brahms and Schubert.
Yundi Li-in my opinion, he is one of the best interpreters of Chopin and Liszt.
Lang Lang-funny facial expressions. Not my favorite because he is too dramatic.
The list could go on forever because there are many pianists who have remained in history for their superior musicality and technique. 

[yeosh]

I've chosen Vladimir because some of my formative introductions to music involved the Decca Previn Ashenazy recording of Rach 2. And at the time I thought I'd never heard such special music in my life before. commercial jingles and custom music

[chicoscalco]

No one is gonna mention Maria João?? She's a very serious musician, and I have yet to find a bad performance of her.

 Well, if Samson François played everything with the same quality with which he played Ravel's D concerto, I'd pick him. Not the case, so Cortot I guess. Or Richter. Or Uchida. It depends...