Valentina Lisitsa v Idil Biret

[pytheamateur]

I have found a lot of posts here about these two pianists individually, but apparently none comparing the two.

I see they are both virtuoso pianists with a wide repertoire leaning on the Romantics.  To the extent it is a meaningful exercise, it would be interesting to hear your views on who is the better pianist.

[chopin1993]

I'd go for Idil Biret!
I like Valentina Lisitsa too, but I think Biret plays in a more sophisticated way.

Valerie

[pianoplayjl]

I'd have to go for Valentina Litsitsa. I haven't heard Biret play a lot so this might be an unfair judgement. I'd say Litsitsa is the better pianist because every time I look at her videos she makes the piece look easy! And probably because I like her interpretations a lot and she plays the pieces faster. I particularly enjoy her interpretations of the Chopin etudes though they deviate in some way from the other interpretations that I usually hear. I particularly enjoy her version of Rach's prelude in g minor.
I've heard some of Biret's recordings but I still prefer Litsitsa. Biret's repertoire is more wider IMO.

JL

[pytheamateur]

I own many CDs by Idil Biret on the Naxos label, mostly recordings of works by Chopin and Rachmaninov.  For a long time, I was content with listening only to her interpretations.

One thing I don't like now is her excessive rubato, especially in the way she plays the left hand accompaniment in some works, which I think actually destroyed the pulse.

I find myself enjoying Lisitsa's recordings more.  Obviously, they have better sound quality as they are more recent recordings.  I hope this is not the reason for preferring her.

[gfds]

Check this out! Did you ever heard this piece by Liszt? Totally surprising!

[suniil]

I always hunt for best audio quality, hence ms.Lisitsa for me

[richard_strauss]

Based on repertoire alone I'd have to say Idil Biret hands down! Complete works of Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Ravel; the 9 Beethoven-Liszt symphonies, complete Prokofiev sonatas and concerti, Ligeti's etudes (book I and II complete), Boulez sonatas, Berlioz-Liszt's symphonie fantastique, Bach's WTC plus 81 concerti (not to mention other works for piano and orchestra such as Liszt's Totentanz)!!! And these are just highlights of her ridiculously enormous repertoire!!!! 

[pianoplayjl]

Based on repertoire alone I'd have to say Idil Biret hands down! Complete works of Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Ravel; the 9 Beethoven-Liszt symphonies, complete Prokofiev sonatas and concerti, Ligeti's etudes (book I and II complete), Boulez sonatas, Berlioz-Liszt's symphonie fantastique, Bach's WTC plus 81 concerti (not to mention other works for piano and orchestra such as Liszt's Totentanz)!!! And these are just highlights of her ridiculously enormous repertoire!!!! 

Impressive, really impressive and a very big repertoire, particularly the concerti. Never forget, however, that Biret is 22 years older than Litsitsa and therefore likely has a bit more experience and also a larger repertoire. I still like Litsitsa because at least she played 1 or 2 Thalberg pieces.  I think comparing Biret to Litsitsa is a bit unfair in my opinion because Biret is 20 years older. It would be a bit more fair judgement if Biret were compared to aperson around her age like Argerich but of course Argerich will easily win. Just my opinion however.

JL

[rmbarbosa]

In respect to Chopin repertoire, of the two I prefer ... Valentina Igoshina. She`s wonderful. And I dont like Lisitsa. She needs to grow...

[ahinton]

For me it would have to be Lisitsa as well, though it's not so easy a choice. I usually find Lisitsa dismayingly facile. Biret, on the other hand, has a far more enterprising attitude to repertoire and a much wider repertoire than Lisitsa but I find much of her playing offers well less than that attitude might lead one to expect. Her Boulez and her Ligeti Études I find particularly disappointing. So it's a choice between two pianists, neither of whom I'd be especially keen to hear, given my past experience of them both.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I would like to see them arm wrestle.

I wonder who would win??

Thal

[richard_strauss]

I would like to see them arm wrestle.

I wonder who would win??

Thal

My money is on Valentina, in some of her videos she really makes those pianos beg for mercy... 

[ahinton]

I would like to see them arm wrestle.

I wonder who would win??

I couldn't care less but, if Martha Argerich were refereeing, I'd put my bet on her winning.

Best,

Alistair

[pytheamateur]

I think comparing Biret to Litsitsa is a bit unfair in my opinion because Biret is 20 years older. It would be a bit more fair judgement if Biret were compared to aperson around her age like Argerich but of course Argerich will easily win. Just my opinion however.

JL

Yes, it's true there's a big age difference between the two.  However, mosts of Idil Biret's commonly available recordings are in the late 80s and early 90s, so we are really comparing the current Lisitsa with the Biret of 20 years ago.

Incidentally, does anyone know how Biret's playing evolved over the last 20 years.  Has she got better?

[richard_strauss]

See for yourself... (Süreyya Opera House, Istanbul - November 2010)