Most underrated classical pianist?

[visitor]

Zhukov. wow, probably has the finest version of the Scriabin Polonaise I've ever listened to (normally my nod is to Sofronitzky but wow, this one is powerful)

=8m48s

[rubinsteinmad]

Another pianists stopped by the communists were Liu Shikun. He fortunately didn't diie, but instead he was arrested for 6 whole years.

He won Silver Medal (along with Lev Vasselenko) after Van Cliburn at the 1st Tchiakovsky Competiton (and many non-New Yorkers knows that Cliburn won exclusively because of politics.)

I don't think Liu Shikun is underrated though. He is kinad famous in China, but I don't think his playing is as good as some other peoples.

[rubinsteinmad]

[schumaniac]

Another pianists stopped by the communists were Liu Shikun. He fortunately didn't diie, but instead he was arrested for 6 whole years.

He won Silver Medal (along with Lev Vasselenko) after Van Cliburn at the 1st Tchiakovsky Competiton (and many non-New Yorkers knows that Cliburn won exclusively because of politics.)

I don't think Liu Shikun is underrated though. He is kinad famous in China, but I don't think his playing is as good as some other peoples.

Liu Shikun is pretty famous in China; one of the first prominent Chinese pianists along with Yin Chengzong and Fou Ts'ong probably. He also judged the Van Cliburn Competition in 2013 so that means he must be quite respected.

His HR6 Octaves are something he is famous for and is p proud of himself, if you listen to his interviews

Also, it's 2AM ET; what are you doing?

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Louis (Lajos) Kentner, Joseph Villa, Vladimir Bakk.

[dogperson]

Another pianists stopped by the communists were Liu Shikun. He fortunately didn't diie, but instead he was arrested for 6 whole years.

He won Silver Medal (along with Lev Vasselenko) after Van Cliburn at the 1st Tchiakovsky Competiton (and many non-New Yorkers knows that Cliburn won exclusively because of politics.)

I don't think Liu Shikun is underrated though. He is kinad famous in China, but I don't think his playing is as good as some other peoples.

A little information please about your statement that Cliburn won because of politics.  I have not heard this before.  I thought Van Cliburn won iN SPITE OF politics-- the judges wanted to award him first place but were hesitant because of the Cold War.

[rubinsteinmad]

A little information please about your statement that Cliburn won because of politics.  I have not heard this before.  I thought Van Cliburn won iN SPITE OF politics-- the judges wanted to award him first place but were hesitant because of the Cold War.

Outside of America, on foreign websites, you can see people talking about it (unless you cant speak any foreign languages, and don't know how to use Google Translate  )

BTW, have you heard Van Cliburn play? It isn't that pleasant

[rubinsteinmad]

I think Alexandre Tharaud is relatively unknown...

Ayaka Uehara is amazing, too.

[rubinsteinmad]

I also admire Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Even though he is pretty famous already, he's not as famous as some other people.

His CD, "The Chopin I Love", brought me into many works by Chopin, i. e. the Prelude #24, and also the Etude Op. 25 #3.

[rubinsteinmad]

Liu Shikun is pretty famous in China; one of the first prominent Chinese pianists along with Yin Chengzong and Fou Ts'ong probably.

I prefer Yin Chengzong and Fou T'song's playing far more than Liu Shikun 

My favorite by far is Fou T'song, but a +1 to Yin Chengzhong for being able to copy Tchaikovsky, Grieg, and Rachmaninoff 

[rubinsteinmad]

Ollti Multanen

This is an amazing understanding of the classical music.

[pianoman1233]

Ollti Multanen

This is an amazing understanding of the classical music.

I think he's Olli Mustonen.

[rubinsteinmad]

Yoonhea Yang.

[visitor]

Ivana Vidovich

[pencilart3]

That one has, for many years, been on my liszt of least favorite pieces.

[visitor]

That one has, for many years, been on my liszt of least favorite pieces.

i agree, though to me it's just middle of the road, a meh so-so piece. i love *heart late liszt (from period where he gets w the clergy and mellows out, from 'Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este and onward)
like this jewel of a piece. sign me up. more please

[pencilart3]

Visitor, let's continue this in the "What are you listening to right now" thread so we don't spam this one! I will reply to your post there.

[rubinsteinmad]

That one has, for many years, been on my liszt of least favorite pieces.

Clearly you've only listened to the ugly beginning.

Or maybe you connected the Funerailles with the Funeral March from the Sonata #2 of Chopin, which everyone knows you have some personal animosity towards.

[schumaniac]

Clearly you've only listened to the ugly beginning.

Or maybe you connected the Funerailles with the Funeral March from the Sonata #2 of Chopin, which everyone knows you have some personal animosity towards.

Dude the beginning is not ugly it is FRICKING INTENSE! And if you think it's dissonan, it's just a dominant chord of F minor... And the main melody is just great. Liszt was also very deeply motivated to write the piece- it was in memory of his friends who had died in the Hungarian Revolution of 1849...

[rubinsteinmad]

Dude the beginning is not ugly it is FRICKING INTENSE! And if you think it's dissonan, it's just a dominant chord of F minor... And the main melody is just great. Liszt was also very deeply motivated to write the piece- it was in memory of his friends who had died in the Hungarian Revolution of 1849...

I ALREADY KNOW THAT. Do you think I'm dumb?

[schumaniac]

I ALREADY KNOW THAT. Do you think I'm dumb?

Yes, yes I do. You're always either plain dumb or "just" sarcastic, and it's impossible to tell those two things apart.

[pencilart3]

Do you think I'm dumb?

Yes, yes I do.

[schumaniac]

ayyyyyyyyy

[rubinsteinmad]

Yes, yes I do. You're always either plain dumb or "just" sarcastic, and it's impossible to tell those two things apart.

Well I can tell those two things apart, why cant you?

#prostituteBURN!!!

[schumaniac]

Well I can tell those two things apart, why cant you?

#prostituteBURN!!!

i don't get all these prostitute burns

[rubinsteinmad]

i don't get all these prostitute burns

There are multiple ways to interpret it, but the two ones that come to mind first are

(1) The way a prostitute would "burn" (insult) her client.
(2) BURN, prostitute, BURN!!!!

[schumaniac]

There are multiple ways to interpret it, but the two ones that come to mind first are

(1) The way a prostitute would "burn" (insult) her client.
(2) BURN, prostitute, BURN!!!!

I get it; it's the new "that's what she said"

[rubinsteinmad]

I get it; it's the new "that's what she said"

No, I made it up myself.

[eldergeek]

Getting back to the original question, I vote for Zoltan Kocsis as the most underrated.

Seriously impressed with his performance of the Bartok Sonata https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTD3Khd3-lY

[tinyking12345]

Byron Janis

[rubinsteinmad]

Alan Mendel.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUSRfoOcUe4Z4gWXnv6iXDawIJcEDsmEe

[rubinsteinmad]

James Barbagallo-

Despite being 4th Prize and Bronze Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition, he is kinda unknown...

[zpianist]

Andor Foldes; some pianists may know him but he's never considered like "oh, super great" or "amazing technician" or "amazing at x composer..." I think he deserves better though.
His recordings are all over YouTube though

[philolog]

I recently came across a pianist on YouTube I hadn't thought of in quite a while, Ronald Turini. I think he was  a Horowitz student for a while. In any case, here's a nice performance to savor (there are others on YouTube):

[visitor]

this dude is good. his mom studied w Neuhaus in Moscow so he has direct ties to the teaching lineage. Wish he had more stuff recorded and avail on yt. i think he has a recent Chopin scherzo recording somewhere, not my cup of tea but the playing is good. will post if i can find it, stays hidden in searches unless you seek it out

edit =found it

[preludetr]

I believe Maria Yudina isn't really known or celebrated outside of Russia, but in my view, she is by far one of the greatest pianists who ever lived. Her interpretations are some of the best I've heard. I don't think anyone plays like her nowadays, because the modern conservatories and competitions tend to standardize the styles of playing.