Which of THESE pianist is your most favorite?

[musicioso]

Hey guys,

I know this kind of polls are not very useful, but just for my information. I have listened to these pianists for more than 5 years. All of them are my favorites, but if i had to chose just one, it would be Richter.

So who would you be your most favo from this list? I am curious to know which pianist will be the most favo on this forum!

[outin]

I really don't have favorites among pianists, probably because I have never seen any of them play live. Some recordings I like a lot and some not as much. Many pianists on your list have made great recordings and all of them are good in their own way. I guess it would be easier to name my least favorite and this would only reflect my dislike for watching a pianist move around too much when playing...

[49410enrique]

sorry. just not all that into anyone you listed.

im just going to vote for the pianist i find myself actually going out of my way to hear (both live when he tours  and passes near me) and on YT and when I look at my recordings I find his name pops up quite a bit.

 'general' pianist (i.e not specific to a particular class/composer) my vote is for:
emanuel ax.

im actually quite shocked he is not mentioned more around the board w regard to exceptional pianists/playing.  but then again i tend to like many of those note all that 'in vogue' i.e. andre watts, and several othe cats from the 'generation' i think many of these pianists are at that pinnacle of playing that is achieved when uncommon virtuosity, incredible training, and what can only come from decades of experience, they are 'seasoned' and 'seasoned well' i might add.


then there's kapustin. though generally tought of more from a 'composer' perspective, when i've seen the rare video of him performing and when i listen to my 'kapustin plays kapustin' album, i am literally in awe manytimes. like mouth open/agape awe. he is that incredible.

i'm also very much i love with gordon fergus-thompson's chopin and scriabin
i.e https://vimeo.com/26250109


though the question is probably more fair is asked what are favorite musicians by genre or class/type of music, that is a favorite interpreter of baroque, or modern music?

i.e. there are some pianists we can't really gauge on their ability (or maybe can at least see a lack of desire to) play modern works. like this guy, he's pretty freakin awesome here and i never would have heard him/of him if i had not actively seeked this music out

, or even by composer? or what about class like favorite performer of piano plus ensemble? or maybe even more specialized like favforite chamber pianist? etc. i think that might be more fair and probably more interresting if it were not a poll and people actually gave some music reasoning and more than a work or two about  why vs. just listing a name, etc.

to further complicate matters what about 'non traditional' genre that are still classical/tona in tradition but not neccessariy part of the mainstream art musc scene?
 

still it is about as subjective as those post asking about difficulty rankings of a piece, or favorite composer, etc.

and since you did put many 'historical' pianists on your list i was a little taken back that sofrinsky, rubenstein, and cliburn were not on your list. if i vote for or look for 'vintage' recordings, those are usually among my first places to look.

as you can see from my ramblings the more one thinks about this question the more and more complex it can become lol

[outin]

i'm also very much i love with gordon fergus-thompson's chopin and scriabin
i.e https://vimeo.com/26250109

OT: I listened to the recordings you sent me earlier and I somehow was not really into his style with Scriabin. I don't know the right word for it, but it was somehow too "dreamy" for my taste. So it really is quite subjective, I have formed my own ideal about how his music sounds best and the pianists have their own. Sometimes they go well together, sometimes not, but it doesn't make the pianists more or less great IMO, just a matter of taste.

[49410enrique]

OT: I listened to the recordings you sent me earlier and I somehow was not really into his style with Scriabin. I don't know the right word for it, but it was somehow too "dreamy" for my taste. So it really is quite subjective, I have formed my own ideal about how his music sounds best and the pianists have their own. Sometimes they go well together, sometimes not, but it doesn't make the pianists more or less great IMO, just a matter of taste.

ineed. fair assessment. i understand where your are coming from. i do feel the same way at times with regard to his 'tone quality' and perhaps in spots too light a touch (not 'surfacy' and he alwasy projects and 'sings' but i tend to like a little more 'bite' to my notes...much to the chagrin/frustration of my current teacher who thinks my style of playing leans too strongly to stravinsky-ian play vs lyrical, something we are always trying to balance. i was simply going for my modern go to 'in general' for specific works i will defer to others at times, and for overall/all time best, Sofronitsky  baby. Sofronitsky  all the way.)

[blazekenny]

I dont really have any favorite among pianists, but when I hear talent, Sviatoslav Richter instantly pops in my mind - amazing sight reading, enormous hands, extreme technical capabilities, and titanic musicality, and mainly, his dedication to score. Also I have to note that some of the pieces he played are so perfect that they dont need to be played by anyone else (Pictures at an exhibition, f minor ballade, op. 2 no. 1 sonate, aswell as the bigger sonatas by Beethoven)

Jesus christ, Lang Lang and Lisitsa arent pianist, they are athletes with alot of technique and luck for agentures.

[nocturnetr]

1-Richter
2-Argerich
3-Rachmaninoff                   
4-Horowitz
5-Volodos
6-Sokolov
7-Kissin
8-Gilels
9-Katsaris
10-Cziffra

Actually, I like Wilhelm Kempff and Zimerman too, but among the list, those are my favourites. I am not certain about the order after Top 5, though.

[outin]

for overall/all time best, sofrinsky baby. sofrinsky all the way.)

It took me a while to figure out who is this mystery pianist you are talking about...Sofronitsky?

EDIT:
I didn't have his Scriabin recordings. That huge error has now been corrected and I am enjoying them as I write this

[49410enrique]

It took me a while to figure out who is this mystery pianist you are talking about...Sofronitsky?

EDIT:
I didn't have his Scriabin recordings. That huge error has now been corrected and I am enjoying them as I write this

OT: I listened to the recordings you sent me earlier and I somehow was not really into his style with Scriabin. I don't know the right word for it, but it was somehow too "dreamy" for my taste. So it really is quite subjective, I have formed my own ideal about how his music sounds best and the pianists have their own. Sometimes they go well together, sometimes not, but it doesn't make the pianists more or less great IMO, just a matter of taste.

indeed. i was 'multitasking' typing too fast and on an ipad no less, the error simply escaped me. thanks for the catch!

[thesuineg]

lol poor gilels, he's actually really good. Richter close second along with pollini(i have an unreasonable affection for his playing :/). 1st rach obvi