1 pianist - 1 piece

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I was just thinking : is there one or two pieces that best define a pianist's art ? Not necessarily the piece a pianist is usually associated with in people's mind, but a piece that best expresses the performer's musicality and style ? Well, this is my list for a couple of pianists that I like. Let me know what you think :

V Horowitz :
Chopin, Ballade #1 in G minor
Liszt, Mephisto Waltz

S Richter :
Scriabin, Sonata #5
Moussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition

G Gould :
French Suite #5 (especially the Sarabande)

M Pletnev :
Bach/Busoni : Chaconne in D minor

M Argerich :
Chopin, Polonaise op. 53

S Francois :
Debussy, L'Isle Joyeuse

A Rubinstein :
Albeniz, Navarra

W Gieseking
Debussy, Preludes

A Brendel
Liszt, piano concerto #1

...

[thracozaag]

I was just thinking : is there one or two pieces that best define a pianist's art ? Not necessarily the piece a pianist is usually associated with in people's mind, but a piece that best expresses the performer's musicality and style ? Well, this is my list for a couple of pianists that I like. Let me know what you think :

V Horowitz :
Chopin, Ballade #1 in G minor
Liszt, Mephisto Waltz

I would say Rach 3rd concert, 2nd sonata

S Richter :
Scriabin, Sonata #5
Moussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition

Defintely something of Prokofiev, I find the Pictures to be quite dreadful.

G Gould :
French Suite #5 (especially the Sarabande)

 They don't call it the "Gouldberg" for nothing.

M Pletnev :
Bach/Busoni : Chaconne in D minor

Sure, why not.

M Argerich :
Chopin, Polonaise op. 53

S Francois :
Debussy, L'Isle Joyeuse

Certainly; also his Gaspard.

A Rubinstein :
Albeniz, Navarra

Any of the EMI Chopin performances.


W Gieseking
Debussy, Preludes

yup

A Brendel
Liszt, piano concerto #1

 uhh...don't get this one...most people would probably say his Beethoven (which I don't particularly care for).  I would nominate his Haydn sonatas, which as fabulous.
...

I'll add:

Cziffra: GGC, 10th transcendental Etude, Dante...basically anything Liszt

Kapell: Brahms 1st concerto, Chopin 3rd sonata, mazurkas, Rach Rhapsody, 2nd concerto..

Bolet: Chopin Preludes.

Gilels: Prok. 3rd sonata, Brahms 2nd

koji (STSD)

[Max]

Cziffra - HR no.9 (I love that recording!)

Arrau - basically any Beethoven Sonata, and also Feux Follets

Pollini - Chopin Sonatas

Hamelin - Alkan op.39 7-11 (the grand symphonie for piano or whatever it's called)

[rohansahai]

Zimerman - Chopin Ballades
Pollini - Chopin etudes
Gilels - Waldstein Sonata (Or any Beethoven for that matter)
Horowitz - Carmen variations (The SHOWMANSHIP is clearly defined here)

[cobalt_18]

I'd have to add:

Perlemuter - Ravel, Gaspard de la Nuit

[general disarray]

Gina Bachauer -- Brahm's B-flat Concerto

Julius Katchen -- well, all Brahms' solo music

Cliburn -- Tchaikovsy Concerto

Anne Queffelec -- Ravel "tombeau" and "Gaspard"

John Browning -- Barber Concerto

[minor9th]

Ivo Pogorelich: Gaspard
Lazar Berman: Liszt Transcendental Etudes (or any Liszt!)
Andre Gavrilov: Islamey
Jonathan Powell: Opus Clavicembalisticum (coming soon, I hope!)

[mikey6]

Bolet: Chopin Preludes.

Really?  Can't say I'm a fan.  Not a huge Bolet fan anyway except for the live Tannhauser rec which is phenomenal.