Your favourite pianists & why

[beethovensonata]

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!

I know that people will KILL me for this, but it's Lang Lang.  But I like Daniel Barenboim equally well.  Valentina Lisitsa is third.  Lang lang has a very clear tone, and even though most people call him a "clown" or "fake" I feel that he is genuine.  Who would spend thirty years on the piano and be fake? NO ONE!  Barenboim on Beethoven is absolutely Exceptional, his tone, and understanding seems seems very deep. 

[thalbergmad]

Those 3 would probably be at the very bottom of my list. Even Mr Midi would be above them.

Lang Lang is a clown, Barenboim can just about play Beethoven when he can be arsed to practice and Lisitsa murdered Rachmaninoff.

Thal

[j_menz]

Lisitsa murdered Rachmaninoff.

Wow! She has a time machine? 

SR died 1943, VL born 1973.