Your Favorite 3 Piano Recordings of All Time

[silyaznfoo]

In an urge to rediscover classical music, I've restarted playing piano and frequenting these forums. I also want to discover what other people consider their "favorite" recordings. Here are my picks (not necessarily in order)

1. Barenboim - Complete Beethoven Sonatas
2. Kissin with Ashkenazy conducting - Prok 2 & 3
3. Zimerman - Chopin's 4 Ballades, Fantasy and Barcarolle

The only restriction I'd like to place is that it should not be a "compilation" recording, but rather a recording that the artist intended to put out as a set (so my three choices would fit, though the first one is a lot longer than the other two).

Oh and just for kicks maybe suggest one of your favorite non-piano classical recording and your favorite classical youtube video.

For recording, it would have to be Barshai's Mahler 5. The second movement is out of this world breathtaking.

For youtube video, meet Hamelin's coda :

[maestro57]

Vladimir Ashkenazy - Beethoven Piano Sonatas
Mitsuko Uchida - Mozart Piano Sonatas
Glenn Gould - Bach's Goldberg Variations
Jorge Bolet - anything and everything this man plays

That's four (and more, if you count the last one).

Non-piano classical music YouTube video? Endellion String Quartet - Beethoven's String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op 131.

[eric0773]

Samson François – Chopin Nocturnes & Préludes
After listening to this one, many other interpretations of these pieces will sound literal, risk-averse, bureaucratic. One of the most distinctive and personal interpretations I have heard. Sounds like a perfected version of Cortot’s recording, with even more intensity.

Wilhelm Kempff – Beethoven Sonatas
Perfection - IMHO.

Ruth Laredo – Scriabin Sonatas
Love the “cold”, intense sound of the piano on this one. Very strong personality as well. Lots of variety in the playing - impossible to get bored.

[j_menz]

Glenn Gould - Bach's Goldberg Variations

Which one, though?

[perprocrastinate]

Pollini - Chopin Etudes, 1980-something studio recording
Pogorelich - Ravel Gaspard de la nuit, 1990 studio recording
Gould - Bach Goldberg Variations, 1981 studio recording

[maestro57]

Which one, though?

I've got both 1955 and 1981 and I prefer the 1981 version 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Valentina Lisitsa-totentanz

Horowitz-Rach 3 1978

Arthur Rubinstein-Chopin ballade 3

[outin]

Pollini - Chopin Etudes, 1980-something studio recording

You are still willing to admit that after that other thread? 
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=51036.0

I could never name just 3 favorite recordings but this and sonata 3 by him are superb.

I do not have the earlier recording...a bit curious about those.

[andreslr6]

Ruth Laredo – Scriabin Sonatas
Love the “cold”, intense sound of the piano on this one. Very strong personality as well. Lots of variety in the playing - impossible to get bored.

I'll have to check this one out, I have Ashkenazy's, Hamelin's, Ponti's and Maria Lettberg's, and I find ML to be the most interesting for me, she's the one that proposes something really different than the others, but still I think there could be something more...

But anyways.

1. Gould's 1981 Goldberg
2. Probably Kissin's Proko 2nd & 3rd
3. Probably Ligetti's 1st string quartet with the Hagen. (DG)

[perprocrastinate]

You are still willing to admit that after that other thread?  
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=51036.0

I like his recordings. Screw that thread. An interpretation is an interpretation. There can be no standard for comparison to establish what is truly good. Are emotion and "musicality" sciences?

[silyaznfoo]

I think Pollini's etudes are spot on. Etudes are meant to dazzle and his do. 'Nuff said

Anybody else have opinions on favorite Beethoven sonata cycles? Or favorite interpretation of op. 111 (my favorite, along with op. 53)? How about favorite WTC?

Also, people should post more youtube videos. Here is the aforementioned 1978 Horowitz Rach 3:

[g_s_223]

[silyaznfoo]

Any more recommendations or youtube videos?

Starving for some new music. 

[worov]

Rosalyn Tureck playing the WTC (DG)

Claudio Arrau playing Beethoven sonatas (his 1960's Philips recording)

Claudio Arrau playing the Chopin Preludes (his Philips 1973 recording)

[asiantraveller101]

Pollini - all Beethoven concerti
Pollini - all Chopin etudes
Argerich - all Chopin preludes
(Honorable mentions: Tharaud - all Ravel; Anda - all Mozart concerti)

[perprocrastinate]

Any more recommendations or youtube videos?

Starving for some new music. 

Here are some pieces of music I wouldn't mind listening to all day.

--

Rubinstein: Bach-Busoni, Chaconne in D minor

Hamelin: Bellini-Liszt, Reminiscences de Norma

Pogogelich: Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit

Gutierrez: Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor

Weissenberg: Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No. 3 and Piano Sonata No. 1, both in D minor

Laplante: Liszt, Sonata in B minor

Ringeissen: Alkan, Le Festin d'Esope, Etude Op. 39, No. 12 in E minor

[korlock]

1. Zimerman - Chopin Ballades 1-4
2. Hough - Saint-Saens Complete Piano Concertos
3. Volodos - Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3

[michaelpianist]

In an urge to rediscover classical music, I've restarted playing piano and frequenting these forums. I also want to discover what other people consider their "favorite" recordings. Here are my picks (not necessarily in order)

1. Barenboim - Complete Beethoven Sonatas
2. Kissin with Ashkenazy conducting - Prok 2 & 3
3. Zimerman - Chopin's 4 Ballades, Fantasy and Barcarolle

The only restriction I'd like to place is that it should not be a "compilation" recording, but rather a recording that the artist intended to put out as a set (so my three choices would fit, though the first one is a lot longer than the other two).

Oh and just for kicks maybe suggest one of your favorite non-piano classical recording and your favorite classical youtube video.

For recording, it would have to be Barshai's Mahler 5. The second movement is out of this world breathtaking.

For youtube video, meet Hamelin's coda :

Which Barenboim Beethoven set? I have both the Deutsche Grammophon set & the EMI set, and prefer the DG over the EMI, although I love both sets

3 of my favorites:
- Emil Gilels: Beethoven Sonatas
- Arthur Rubinstein: The Chopin Collection
- Maurizio Pollini: Chopin Etudes, Preludes, Polonaises

[thepianist09]

1. Barenboim - 5th Piano Concerto
2. Lugansky - Rachmaninov Paganini Variations
3. Perahia - Brahms Intermezzo in A Major