Which pianist had the greatest technical command of the piano?

[wildman]

I have revised my previous, failure edition of "who was the greatest pianist". Of course we can't add pianists who haven't recorded any of their works, so I decided to put that aside.

I personally pick Cziffra and Tatum, although their virtuosity is quite different - Cziffra had perhaps the strongest technical command, while Tatum could play the most effortlessly.

Cziffra - Feux Follets

Tatum - Tiger Rag

 

EDIT: Crap, sorry, forgot about Richter. How could I miss him? 

[adari]

So are we not including pianists  of whom no recordings exist? Historical records would indicate that Alkan had the greatest technical ability.
I voted for Hamelin, as he plays anything and everything with complete aplomb, totally relaxed and never sloppy or strained. I saw him live, a couple of months ago, playing Ravel, Liszt, Haydn and Stockhausen, and he was absolutely mind-blowing.

[p2u_]

Which pianist had the greatest technical command of the piano?

It's how you define "technical command", of course. Speed, dynamic range, command of sound...

It's funny, but that person
* was not even a trained pianist (he was virtually self-taught) and
* is not in the list.

I'm quite sure that all of the above-mentioned would agree themselves that NOBODY was able to outdo Sviatoslav Richter in his best years.

P.S.: Unfortunately, one can read a lot on YouTube criticizing the man (sometimes rightfully so), but those people just don't know that Richter had a stroke (I don't remember the year exactly) from which he never really recovered. It may be called a miracle that he even played the way he did in later life.

Paul

[sphince]

I voted for zimerman.Every single interpretation I've heard from him is absolutely flawless(dynamic-wise and technically-wise) I've never been able to spot a single stumble or a note played wrong in any way in his perfomances.Also he deserves applause for recording the 4 ballades of chopin in 1 sit .

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Cziffra is god with a piano.

[sevencircles]

[quote ]P.S.: Unfortunately, one can read a lot on YouTube criticizing the man (sometimes rightfully so), but those people just don't know that Richter had a stroke (I don't remember the year exactly) from which he never really recovered. It may be called a miracle that he even played the way he did in later life.

Paul
[/quote]

A stroke, really? I thought that he just broke his thumb?
I have also heard that he never really recovered, the same thing with Cziffra he injured his hands and never recovered. He had significantly better technique before.

[p2u_]

I thought that he just broke his thumb?

The broken finger was the result of a bar fight outside Moscow in 1952 (long before his Carnegie debut) from which he recovered quite well. While recovering, he actually took up conducting, which he learned in just 10 days with the help of Kondrashin. Here's the story:
https://sviatoslavrichter.blogspot.com/2010/11/richter-conduct-prokofev.html

P.S.: Since Richter has now appeared on the list, I'd better go and vote for him.

Paul

[p2u_]

Cziffra is god with a piano.

Of course, no doubt about that. By the way, have you seen him practice the last of Schumann's Symphonic Etudes on his silent keyboard? Now, that's something the "you-can't-play-the-piano-without-your-ears" methodists will have a hard time watching:

P.S.: This supports my opinion that learning to play the piano at virtuoso level is more about proprioception and kinesthetic awareness than about listening, which does not mean that you shouldn't listen at all to what you are doing, of course.

Paul

[sevencircles]

p2u_: When did Richter have a stroke?

[p2u_]

p2u_: When did Richter have a stroke?

I really forgot the exact year. Reportedly in the late 1970s. That's also when he started having very serious memory lapses, began playing exclusively from the score and with a completely changed technique.

Paul

[marik1]

I'm quite sure that all of the above-mentioned would agree themselves that NOBODY was able to outdo Sviatoslav Richter in his best years.

No doubt. While in the "Pianostreet" circles he is mostly known for his Chopin Etude Op.10 no.4 and some other flashy stuff, I believe he is immensely much more than that--not for nothing he was called musician no.1 of the 20th century.

Another giant was Rachmaninov (ironically, no one even considered to vote for him). If the only performances he ever made were Gnomenreigen, and Gluck-Sgambatti (about which Sofronitsky said: "It is impossible to play piano better than that"), then in my book he already would've been one of the greatest pianists ever lived.

Best, M

[p2u_]

Another giant was Rachmaninov (ironically, no one even considered to vote for him).

Well, there was only one option, so I picked my personal favorite.
P.S.: By the way, I forgot to reply to part of the question: "post something showing that person's virtuosity". At random, from a live performance in 1961, and not too long: Richter in his pact with the devil - Prokofiev's Suggestion Diabolique.

Paul

[sevencircles]

I really forgot the exact year. Reportedly in the late 1970s. That's also when he started having very serious memory lapses, began playing exclusively from the score and with a completely changed technique.

Paul

I thought he had a stroke in his early thirties when you said it first. 

I know that Cziffra injured his hands seriously in his  twenties and he never recovered but he matured musically according to some people that heard him  before and afterwards 

[p2u_]

I know that Cziffra injured his hands seriously in his  twenties and he never recovered but he matured musically according to some people that heard him  before and afterwards 

If you are a fan, then you might be interested in reading the English version of his memoirs online: Cannons and Flowers: Memoirs of Georges Cziffra.

Paul

[zeusje]

So many males in the list.


What about Eyleen Joyce?
What about Delarocha?

[p2u_]

So many males in the list.


What about Eyleen Joyce?
What about Delarocha?

Yes, I could hear the topic starter sing in his best James Brown imitation:

This is a man's, a man's, a man's world
But it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl.

Unfortunately, he took A woman too literally; only Martha is there (it was her birthday yesterday, by the way).

P.S.: Actually, there are also a lot of other "males" (men that is) missing that deserve to be in the list. Gilels, Michelangeli, to name a few...

Paul

[bachbrahmsschubert]

Sheer virtuosity: Cziffra.

Control in sound and a unique knowledge of music: Gould and Richter.