Your favorite pianist

[chopinfrederic]

Who's your favorite pianist? My favorite is Lang Lang.

[senanserat]

I'm my own favorite...

Okays that's a lie I am highly critical of myself so I would have to say Marasy.

[kakeithewolf]

Most of my considerations are dead.

Out of living pianist? I believe her name is Valentina Lisitiza?

[chicoscalco]

Out of the living ones I'd say Pierre Laurent Aimard!! He's a musician who happens to be a pianist   

[mjames]

chicks with great curves

seriously though

chicks with great curves


Henry nehaus, sofrotnisky, halina czerny stefanska, lympany, novaes, Barbagallo, Feinberg, Samson Francois, Sergio Fiorentino, Leo Sirota, and Malcuzynski

yuja wang and valentina lisitsa

[chicoscalco]

chicks with great curves

seriously though

chicks with great curves


Henry nehaus, sofrotnisky, halina czerny stefanska, lympany, novaes, Barbagallo, Feinberg, Samson Francois, Sergio Fiorentino, Leo Sirota, and Malcuzynski

yuja wang and valentina lisitsa

You can't go wrong with these two 
Seriously though, that list of yours was pretty epic. Sofrotnisky's Scriabin... breathtaking. Novaes's Chopin and Schumann is also out of this world. And Samson François... no words to describe his rendition of Ravel's pc in D major.


The problem with this thread for me at least, is that I can't find a favorite pianist for all kinds of repertoire. I said Aimard, but is he the best interpreter of Beethoven out there? Probably not.
It depends.

[perfect_pitch]

Who's your favorite pianist? My favorite is Lang Lang.

As a joke, that's not even funny. If you're serious... then shame on you.

[pianoplayer51]

Helene Grimaud

[thalbergmad]

Katsaris & Volodos.

Lang Lang is an absurd suggestion. His popularity seems to rob people of their critical senses.

Thal

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Oh come on guys stop hating on Lang Lang!

It's not like he sucks or anything!

Actually nevermind, keep hating on him.

Everyone needs haters.  If you don't have at least five haters, then you're doing something wrong.

[awesom_o]

Lang Lang doesn't suck half as badly as Helene Grimaud  (Usually I refrain from criticizing prominent artists, but there is something about her playing that really makes me feel ill).

Granted, Mr Lang isn't exactly a master of the expressive subtleties of nuance unique to truly great pianists... but the other day I heard a Mozart concerto of his that was pretty darn freakin' good!

[ahinton]

Lang Lang is an absurd suggestion. His popularity seems to rob people of their critical senses.

It's arguably two absurd suggestions. I don't hate him by any means, but I do believe that he's seriously overrated by quite a few people.

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Most of my considerations are dead.

Out of living pianist? I believe her name is Valentina Lisitiza?

No, it isn't - and it's not Franz Lisitiza either.

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Helene Grimaud

Seriously? Is that the best you can do? Mon Dieu! In a world studded with perfectly decent pianists and some far more than merely that? With Pollini, Hamelin, Sudbin, Grante, Powell, Piemontesi, Maltempo and thousands more still with us, you'd choose Hélène Grimaud? Why?

Best,

Alistair

[kakeithewolf]

No, it isn't - and it's not Franz Lisitiza either.

Best,

Alistair

I never was very good with names.

[mjames]

It's because she's pretty.

I mean, that's why I like her.

[ahinton]

I never was very good with names.

Don't worry; it could have been worse(!)...

Best,

Alis(z)tair

[ahinton]

It's because she's pretty.

I mean, that's why I like her.

Fair enough. I don't think she's pretty, actually, but that's not why I don't like her. Actually, I don't dislike Valentina Lisitsa as such; I just don't get at all excited by her playing.

I think, however, that the thread is supposed to be about favourite pianists in terms of their piano playing rather than what anyone happens to think that any of them look like.

Best,

Alistair

[kakeithewolf]

Fair enough. I don't think she's pretty, actually, but that's not why I don't like her. Acxtually, I don't dislike Valentina Lisitsa as such; I just don't get at all excited by her playing.

I think, however, that the thread is supposed to be about favourite pianists in terms of their piano playing rather than what anyone happens to think that any of them look like.

Best,

Alistair

I'm not exactly a fan of her emotional interpretation (for that, I'm more leaning towards Marc-Andre Hamelin or Pogorelich). I'm more of a fan of how she approaches technique.

[awesom_o]

I'm not exactly a fan of her emotional interpretation......I'm more of a fan of how she approaches technique.

This makes ZERO sense.

[kakeithewolf]

This makes ZERO sense.

Looking back on that statement, I'd have to agree.

[awesom_o]

Personally, I can't stand Valentina's touch or tone. Ever.

Except for in one piece, which I think she plays EXTREMELY well. Rachmaninov's 'Little Red Riding Hood' Etude-Tableaux. For some bizarre reason, her interpretation of that piece is insanely good! It just suits her style perfectly.

[noambenhamou]

Personally, I can't stand Valentina's touch or tone. Ever.

Except for in one piece, which I think she plays EXTREMELY well. Rachmaninov's 'Little Red Riding Hood' Etude-Tableaux. For some bizarre reason, her interpretation of that piece is insanely good! It just suits her style perfectly.

Hahaha, this is great. What a coincidence! Last night after I recorded op9no2 I went on my laptop on youtube in bed to see what other people are doing with this piece. My girlfriend was sleeping so I had the volume way way down and when I looked at her fingers move, I couldn't believe she was playing that nocturne until of-course turned up the volume. Visually it looked like she was playing something more dramatic.

Too much theatrics,  and it wasn't appropriate for this piece in my opinion. I was actually disgusted by it. I was about to post on you tune a big old "what!!!!?" but I restrained myself.
But since this is a more private forum allow me to vent.
When I hear her play, it's actually not bad. You can still tell that she doesn't like holding the keys down, and plays with alot of fingers. Once you see the video - I find it distracting and annoying!

You know, those wood hammer shanks flex!!!! So if you accelerate the hammer up very quickly, you get a different sound even at the same volume.

Then I listened to Yundi Li. Musically I didn't get it. What's the hype? Can someone explain? I like his face though.

Whatever, they are still both worlds better than me, but it's so fun being a critic isn't it? hahaha!

[ahinton]

I'm not exactly a fan of her emotional interpretation

I've not even noticed its existence; perhaps that's down to a certain deafness on my part - or perhaps it isn't...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I'm not exactly a fan of her emotional interpretation (for that, I'm more leaning towards Marc-Andre Hamelin or Pogorelich). I'm more of a fan of how she approaches technique.

Hamelin has no emotional interpretation.

He is as flat as a witches tit.

Thal

[kakeithewolf]

Hamelin has no emotional interpretation.

He is as flat as a witches tit.

Thal

Quite a strange comment, as the usual portrayal of a witch is a caricatured form with a repulsive form and large round bosoms.

[chopin4life]

Krystian Zimmerman by far 

[awesom_o]

Quite a strange comment, as the usual portrayal of a witch is a caricatured form with a repulsive form and large round bosoms.

It's true, though. He plays with marvelous facility, but not with marvelous musicality.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Seems this thread is confined to living pianists, even if the title isn't.

My favourite pianists largely seem to be dead.

Cziffra, Wild, Bolet, Rachmaninov, Michelangeli, honourable mention for Samson Francois.

Living pianists: Katsaris, Volodos, Thibaudet, honourable mentions for Fazil Say and Michael Ponti (who is sadly retired, following a stroke - I'm currently enjoying his magnificent von Bronsart concerto).

Hamelin has done a tremendous amount of good work bringing semi-unknown composers into the forefront but I can't say I find his playing interesting.

[chicoscalco]

Seems this thread is confined to living pianists, even if the title isn't.

My favourite pianists largely seem to be dead.

Cziffra, Wild, Bolet, Rachmaninov, Michelangeli, honourable mention for Samson Francois.

Living pianists: Katsaris, Volodos, Thibaudet, honourable mentions for Fazil Say and Michael Ponti (who is sadly retired, following a stroke - I'm currently enjoying his magnificent von Bronsart concerto).

Hamelin has done a tremendous amount of good work bringing semi-unknown composers into the forefront but I can't say I find his playing interesting.

Could you explain what do you find so exceptional in Thibaudets playing?

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Could you explain what do you find so exceptional in Thibaudets playing?

Oh, that's not bad, you only queried one of my suggestions

I like him in Debussy and Ravel - imo it suits his touch/crisp articulation. He did rather a good cd of Liszt transcriptions and I'm biased towards that area of the repertoire - his Gounod Faust Waltz is well worth a listen.

[jy_]

I like Perahia       Kissin is nice, too, sometimes

Ashkenazy 'was' good - i think his earlier recordings were better, his recent one on the Bach Partitas sounded horrible to me, and Cortot would sound much better if they had better recording equipment.

[pianoplayer51]

Seriously? Is that the best you can do? Mon Dieu! In a world studded with perfectly decent pianists and some far more than merely that? With Pollini, Hamelin, Sudbin, Grante, Powell, Piemontesi, Maltempo and thousands more still with us, you'd choose Hélène Grimaud? Why?

Best,

Alistair

How rude  

Helene Grimaud has international stardom and plays at top venues with top orchestras.   She is by no means not a decent pianist.      

I picked her because she is highly inteligent and loves and adores what she does and is technically masterful.     Have you not watched her documentary entitled Living with Wolves?   That is an insight into her life as a concert pianist, how she got there and what she feels about playing and she has been nominated for a grammy.    To say "is that the best you can come up with" is a bit disrespectful and shows you do not let people decide for themselves who they like.    You obviously do not like her and thats fair enough, but she is an international concert  pianist who goes all over the world.   Do you think if she was not that good she would be doing that?   I think not.   I dont know where you are from, but Helene has played at the Proms in London and  only good quality musicians get to play at the Proms

You have asked me why I picked her so now I want to ask you a question.. why do you not like her?   It doesnt matter to me one way or the other, because she has plenty of fans of which you are obviously not one but I am simply curious to know what is it about Helene that puts you off?   Do you think she uses her looks to get to where she is today?    I think her talent is what got her to where she is.  I have met her and I do not think she is the type to use her looks to further her career.   If that was the case then half the people in the audience would be men drooling over her and not the slightest bit interest in her playing and for what its worth, I am a female and go to listen to her as a pianist not to sit and gorpe at her looks (anyway  if I did I would be a lesbian and I am not that)

[mjames]

Talk about taking it personally.

[pianoplayer51]

Talk about taking it personally.

Everyone has a right to like who they like but what I objected to was the comment made "Is that the best you can come up with" 

[ahinton]

How rude  

Not at all - and no rudeness was intended - nor, indeed, would any likely be taken had you read the post literally as a civil question in the light of the number of fine players there are today rather than as an attempt to undermine the fact of your holding your view by being patronising about it.

Helene Grimaud has international stardom and plays at top venues with top orchestras.   She is by no means not a decent pianist.      

A decent one, perhaps - but I thought that we were seeking out more than mere "decency" here. Lots of pianists have international stardom but it's by no means an absolute guarantee of greatness or even ability.

I picked her because she is highly inteligent and loves and adores what she does and is technically masterful.     Have you not watched her documentary entitled Living with Wolves?   That is an insight into her life as a concert pianist, how she got there and what she feels about playing and she has been nominated for a grammy.    To say "is that the best you can come up with" is a bit disrespectful and shows you do not let people decide for themselves who they like.

I have seen it, yes - and I am not seeking to doubt her sincerity (although I remain to be convinced that the documentary really tells us anything much about her pianism or even her pianistic life). As I indicated, no disrespect is intended, either towards you or HG. It's not for me to "decide" what anyone else thinks, but that doesn't mean I'm not entitled to question it, which is all that I did - no more, no less...

You obviously do not like her and thats fair enough, but she is an international concert  pianist who goes all over the world.   Do you think if she was not that good she would be doing that?   I think not.   I dont know where you are from, but Helene has played at the Proms in London and  only good quality musicians get to play at the Proms.

I do not "dislike" her, nor did I suggest that I do but, as I stated above, the fact that she has an international career is of itself no absolute indicator of her gifts; if it were, then some far finer pianists that she is would have equally starry careers - but life doesn't work that way, nor did it do so when Alkan was alive!

You have asked me why I picked her so now I want to ask you a question.. why do you not like her?

I've already answered that one above by clarifying that I don't dislike her.

It doesnt matter to me one way or the other

Then why do you ask?(!)...

because she has plenty of fans of which you are obviously not one but I am simply curious to know what is it about Helene that puts you off?

It's not even that; it's just like, as with Valentina Lisitsa, nothing that I've head her play really excites me, engages me, interests me, has me hooked - and there are other pianists who can do that.

Do you think she uses her looks to get to where she is today?

I don't know, but I doubt it - but then I'm the wrong person to ask, perhaps, because I don't find her especially good looking either.

I think her talent is what got her to where she is.  I have met her and I do not think she is the type to use her looks to further her career.   If that was the case then half the people in the audience would be men drooling over her and not the slightest bit interest in her playing and for what its worth, I am a female and go to listen to her as a pianist not to sit and gorpe at her looks (anyway  if I did I would be a lesbian and I am not that)

As I've indicated, I've no especialy reason to assume that she's sought to use her appearance to further her career; the prospect that as many as half of the members of the audience that she would expect to get at the Proms, for example, "would be men drooling over her" strikes me as frankly absurd for more than one reason!

Best,

Alistair

[pianoplayer51]

I don;t know, but I doubt it - but then I'm the wrong person to ask, perhaps, because I don;t find her especially good looking either.

Best,

Alistair

Are you kidding? Helene is absolutely stunning.

[mjames]

Sure, compared to most female pianists she is but outside of classical music she's just average.

[yeosh]

I would have to go with Benny Anderson who simply made the piano an amazing beautiful sound and made music so effortlessly. For more detail visit Jingles production