He is my favourite pianist because i think his performances are perfect. Though he's hardly ever played public concersos(in Carnegie soon) and he's recorded not many CD in comparison with other pianist, all his CDs IS prefect!!!If he decided record any piece, his performance is always the one of the best in whole world.The first of all...his sound....Profundity and beuty of his sound...His interpretation...i haven't any questions. Each note has place in time. Very romantic play. Completed vision of work. Ideal pianist! Which Zimerman's recording is, your opinion, fairest and why? I love most of all Chopin's Four Ballades, Barcarolle and Fantasy;also concertos: Chopin Liszt Rachmaninov RavelBeethoven;TOTENTANZ, Schubert's IMPROMPTUS, all Chopin's works - - in my opinion he is the best performer of Chopin's works in today's times living.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
But for music that needs more character for eg like Liszt Totentanz, Gyrogy Cziffra is still unbeatable.
I've listened to the Cziffra live Totentanz and Zimmerman's. I have to say that I like Zimmerman's alot more. Cziffra seems unable to play in a steady manner at all. Dynamics and tempo fluctuate like crazy. Zimmerman plays with incredible steadiness, which, to me, creates a much more exciting atmosphere. The steadiness pays off the most in the slow sections, where Zimmerman is just beautiful. Additionally, I think the orchestra plays much better. The orchestra is too quiet in the Cziffra.BTW Zimmerman is 45secs faster And we all know that that's all that matters
I found that assisting to that particular recital was a disturbing experience. I have no problem with a cocky attitude on stage: to be a total show-off is fine. But what I felt the most when he played was: how much he loved himself... It may sound weird, but that feeling I got was pretty extreme. Since then, I have a hard time listening to his recordings.
his Chopin, which might be the composer he's best suited to, really doesn't offer much compared to many great performances of the past (Cortot, Francois, Tiegerman, Czerny-Stefanska, Rubinstein etc.). The Rachmaninoff is superficial and, for me, exudes vainglory.
he plays the rachmaninov concertos so beautifully it makes me cry! (especially the 2nd concerto, i think it's the best recording)
check out his 1975 live recs at Chopin competitionChopin's etude op.10, no.7-8, op.25, no.4, and couple ScherziHis Mozart Piano sonatas, Beethoven Piano Sonatas, 14 Chopin's Waltzes...etc (1978)They are all phenomenal. You can't expect any better.
another adsurd post. If u can come up with the idea that his Chopin doesn't offer much music, then it makes no sense for me to keep arguing. Then I will assume those pianists u mentioned above could play the 4 Ballades, 2 concerti, and minor works of Chopin way superior to Zimerman.How ignorant !!!!
You may think Mozart is a chimpanzee and I play nothing but Mozart for thirty years and both of us can be right. 2 + 2 = 5 or 6 or 4.
And btw, I think nobody has mentioned the only Zimmerman recordings I think are worth $16 plus taxes: Brahms first and second concerti, the five Beethoven ones and a terrific recording of Lutowslawski's concerto.