Greatest Pianist of the 20th Century (poll)

[poiuytrewq11zc]

NOTE: yes, I only listed 15 out of the many candidates. Please don't have a tantrum about someone not being there.

[harpo62]

didn't some think that Rachmaninoff was an even greater pianist than Liszt?

[lelle]

OMG WHY IS NOT ALFRED CORTOT ON THIS LIST OMG FAIL OP RAAAAAGEEEEE?!!!!!!!!?!

on a serious note though I voted for Richter. While he has some bad stuff he is generally a very very solid pianist.

[werq34ac]

sorry for raging but...

WHERE IS ARRAU??
AND LIPATTI? Some say he could easily have surpassed Gould in his Bach. And have you heard his Ravel Alborada del Gracioso? ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. He was destined for great things if he didn't die so early...

And Kissin should be off this list.. although a great pianist, he's no where near the level of some of the others.

As for my vote, I'll go with Horowitz but I think Arrau is more musically intelligent though not necessarily the better performer.

[poiuytrewq11zc]

I do agree with you guys, I could have made this list better. I just thought of 15 names quickly while creating this poll. if it is REALLY bothering you, I will add or replace someone.

[werq34ac]

I really think Arrau and Lipatti deserve to be on this list. And I think Kissin deserves to be taken off..

[pianoman53]

Who the hell is Bunin?! (I know who Bunin is, but why is he there, while Arrau, Lipatti, Cortot, Perahia, Brendel and Kentner isn't)... Or you could at least pick the good of the Bunin's...

[poiuytrewq11zc]

Because more than one person complained about Arrau, Lipatti, and Cortot, I added them and replaced some others. I also reset the poll count to zero so that you can now vote for those new candidates if you wish. I think this will be the last time I'm changing the poll, for I believe everyone on the current list has proven themselves a worthy candidate through their talent and artistry.

[perfect_pitch]

And where the hell is Lang Lang on that list???

(he says with a chuckle in his belly and a mouth full of sarcasm)   



But SERIOUSLY... what about Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli??? Where the hell is he?

[wildman]

And where the hell is Lang Lang on that list???

(he says with a chuckle in his belly and a mouth full of sarcasm)   

Lang Lang isn't actually a "one of the greatest 20th century pianists" type, more of "one of the most popular 21st century pianists", and the 21st century has only seen 12 years compared to the 20th century which has seen 101 years, lol.

Anyway, isn't Glenn Gould some sort of (real) genius? I think he'd top there (of the listed pianists)...hmm...

[point of grace]

is funny that nobody gave argerich a vote! she is sometimes really overrated dont you think?

[lelle]

is funny that nobody gave argerich a vote! she is sometimes really overrated dont you think?

I agree

[perfect_pitch]

Lang Lang isn't actually a "one of the greatest 20th century pianists" type, more of "one of the most popular 21st century pianists", and the 21st century has only seen 12 years compared to the 20th century which has seen 101 years, lol.

Erm... I was kidding... don't know if you read this:

(he says with a chuckle in his belly and a mouth full of sarcasm)   

I wouldn't listen to Lang Lang if someone tied me down to a chair and threatened me.

[werq34ac]

I wouldn't listen to Lang Lang if someone tied me down to a chair and threatened me.

Lang Lang isn't a bad pianist. He just isn't a great pianist. I mean, I would go to any Lang Lang recital (given that the concert is local and the tickets cheap or free). Plus his facial expressions are fun to watch, though I hear he's cut back on those after so much criticism. I would say that he is underrated by those who think he is overrated.

As for Argerich, she definitely deserves a spot on this list as she's one of the great pianists of the 20th century (and luckily for us, she's leaked into the 21st), but I don't think anyone would say that she actually IS the no. 1 pianist.

[point of grace]

Lang Lang isn't a bad pianist. He just isn't a great pianist. I mean, I would go to any Lang Lang recital (given that the concert is local and the tickets cheap or free). Plus his facial expressions are fun to watch, though I hear he's cut back on those after so much criticism. I would say that he is underrated by those who think he is overrated.

omg... just watch lang lang playing rachmaninoff and... and... i cant go on...

As for Argerich, she definitely deserves a spot on this list as she's one of the great pianists of the 20th century (and luckily for us, she's leaked into the 21st), but I don't think anyone would say that she actually IS the no. 1 pianist.

thats a really interesting question... who is the no. 1 pianist of the XXI century?? (up to now)

[perfect_pitch]

Who's the best in the 21st century? Since Pollini is still alive - I'd say him... but I'd also consider Valentina Lisitsa as well as the best in the 21st century so far.

[sevencircles]

Itīs pretty hard to really know how good for instance Hofmann, Cziffra, Rachmaninov and Godowsky were.  Godowsky had recordingfright and couldnīt play nowhere near as accurate as he could when he just had a couple of friends around him. Hofmann was an alcoholic when he did most of recordings and he was just a shadow of the young Hofmann in many ways. The same might be true about Cziffra, he didnīt touch a piano for apr 10 years and injured his hands as a POW. We donīt how good he was when he got drafted at the age of 21, 

Rachmaninov peaked really late but didnīt record large parts of his repertoire.

I think one of these  would qualify as the greatest, the young Hofmann might have been the most talented but itīs hard to know.

[point of grace]

Who's the best in the 21st century? Since Pollini is still alive - I'd say him... but I'd also consider Valentina Lisitsa as well as the best in the 21st century so far.

i'm with you, i also think yuja wang is really growing as a pianist. what do you think??

[redbaron]

is funny that nobody gave argerich a vote! she is sometimes really overrated dont you think?

No

[werq34ac]

I'm a huge fan of Nobuyuki Tsuji. Such passion and depth of soul.. One can tell he is a beautiful person just by the way he plays.


Although Argerich is one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, she's still alive (is she still performing?) and there's a video on youtube of her playing Prok 3 in 2008, so I think she's the best of the 21st century so far.
Agree with pollini.

[perfect_pitch]

i'm with you, i also think yuja wang is really growing as a pianist. what do you think??

Mmm... She is talented, but I think she cares too much about speed. I saw her performance of Brahms Variations on a theme by Paganini and the Trois Mouvements de Petrushka and she didn't seem to take one chance to slow down and enjoy the mellow, slower, calmer moments of the music.

Listen to Pollinis Stravinsky, then listen to Yuja Wang's and let me know what you think between the two.

She is good, and she is definitely one of the better pianists - but for me, she cares about speed rather than beauty - Valentina can do both, same with Pollini.

[edwardweiss]

Well i was in Toronto in June and caught up with Yuja Wang playing Rach 3. I will tell you without a doubt that this was a performance by a great pianist of today.

[point of grace]

Well i was in Toronto in June and caught up with Yuja Wang playing Rach 3. I will tell you without a doubt that this was a performance by a great pianist of today.

good for her, i hope she has the chance to slow down and enjoy the mellow, slower, calmer moments of the music. As perfect_pitch said...
i also like what i heard but with a bit more musicality id would be so much better...
just that...