Your Favorite Pianist Of All Time

[johannesbrahms]

The title of this thread pretty much sums it all up.  Who is your favorite pianist of all time?  I mean the one pianist that, should you be sent to a desert island with the complete recordings of only one pianist, you would choose.  Also, please explain why they are your favorite.  Just to keep you all happy, you may mention the pianist who takes second place in your opinion.

My favorite is Josef Lhevinne.  His technique was as perfect as a human's can get.  The thing that I really like about him, though, is that he was literally never showy; in fact, he was known for being an extremely modest and unambitious person.  His style of playing was aristocratic in the fullest sense of the word.  He played with emotion, but was never sentimental.  He never changed the music score, but his playing was never mechanical.  Despite the fact that everything he ever recorded(not counting piano rolls) could fit onto one CD, I would choose him over every other pianist who ever recorded.  I hope(it is a nigh impossible hope, I know) that one day, I will be able to play like him.

The man who takes second place for me is Sergei Rachmaninoff.

[thalbergmad]

The title of this thread pretty much sums it all up.  

That is true.

[j_menz]

Can I swap the pianist for a piano?

[perprocrastinate]

Who is your favorite pianist of all time?

Vladimir Horowitz. He had absolutely enticing tone color.

[theholygideons]

alexei sultanov.
If only he had lived for longer, i would definitely pay to go see him.