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I am trying to find some more pianists to listen to, and if there are some more like staple composers for certain pianists that I'm missing out on I'd love to listen to more. If you have a best piece they have of a certain composer in mind, comment it...
Also, please add a bit of detail on why or what pieces you like from them, doesn't need to be tht serious just any thoughts you feel like adding.
E.g. for Rach I listen to Horowitz mostly, but he doesn't have a recording of RPC2 so I also listen to Richter play him as well. I've found I like a lot of his interpretations of not only other composers, but, also I like some pieces like maybe g minor prelude even more than Horowitz playing it.
Bach: Gould, Nikolayeva, and Grimaud (Nikolayeva was a recent discovery, she has made bach pretty enjoyable to listen to) Mozart: Need recommendations here, listen to not enough.. Some I've listened to is: Cyprien Katsaris, Richter, Barenboim, Argerich (barely listen to mozart, I've listened to his sonatas by richter, symphonys by katsaris, and random stuff by arg/baren) Beethoven: Pogorelich, Gould, (need recommendation here) Only really listen to some sonatas, and 5th concerto but gould has the best recording i've heard by far for it. Chopin: Horowitz, Zimmerman, Sara Ott, and Honorable mention is Paderewski (just cuz I can't find good quality recordings of him) Sara ott is colorful player she's enjoyable for chopin Rach: Horowitz, Himself, Richter, and HM is Kocsis (his concerti are very good imho) Horowitz and Rach himself are leagues above everyone else, they are very creative and true musicians IMO. Liszt: Cziffra, Lang, Horowitz (I don't really like Lang Lang, but for Liszt he plays some stuff really well e.g. don juan, also I've been listening to his more recent recordings and they are all pretty damn good, I think he's honestly underappreciated) Brahms: Ax, Zimmerman, (need recommendations here, I like piano quartet, and concerto is alright, but I haven't listened to them extensively, I prefer Brahms symphonic works, maybe there are good piano transcription of dances/symphonies?) Grieg: Richter (only really lyric pieces and concerto, I used to listen to rubinstein but I like richter best) Tchaikovsky: Horowitz, Argerich, (need recommendations here for his other pieces besides PC1) Scriabin: Horowitz, Sofronitsky, Trifonov is HM Schubert: Richter mostly, and some horowitz (barely listen to schubert)
I haven't listened to enough, but from the stuff I've listened to and my favorite pieces where I've listened to multiple interpretations. My favorites or the ones that I really felt like it made the composers music speak are Gould, Horowitz, Richter, Cziffra, Sofronitsky, and Zimmerman.
Those are like the only pianists who like actually blow my mind, but, Horowitz is by far my favorite. I don't know why I can't enjoy other pianists as much as him, but, I can listen to him play anything and enjoy it almost... I've listened to a lot of other pianists too, but, these are some of the best of the best that I've listened to. I know of a lot more really great ones, but, these are just my personal favorites or the ones I listen to most often.
My gods are: Cortot, Horowitz, and Sofronitsky,
Started piano during COVID, hopefully I can play Rachmaninoff, Rubinstein, and Scriabin compositions one day...
I don't know that we've ever had this before! Anyone else know? I've been on here since 2009 and I don't remember our ever having such a thing.
And also, good job, Gooddog! You stole what I was going to say for Mozart.
Originally Posted by gooddog
For Mozart, try Mitsuko Uchida
How about that, folks!
And y'know, I might well have said the same as you did for Brahms too:
Originally Posted by gooddog
Brahms: Rada Lupu
In fact I will!
Others, picking just 1 for each composer:
Chopin: Horowitz (Gooddog's pick is my #2: Rubinstein)
Bach: Glenn Gould (in spite of myself)
Scriabin: Horowitz (and then Ruth Laredo)
Schumann: I'm afraid I have to say Horowitz again!
Beethoven: Eric Heidsieck, who most people haven't heard of. I had the lucky pleasure of meeting him, having some lessons, and continuing still to correspond with him, for 21 years. Why him, for Beethoven? Because to me it's the freshest and most spontaneous sounding, always inspiring and interesting. He makes it feel almost like pieces I never heard before.
For Tchaikovsky try the Piano Trio (Op. 50). It's a truly sublime work and one of the best romantic-era chamber works in the repertoire - only competing with two others, which I'll get to soon. [Recording recommendation: Emil Gilels as the pianist]
For Beethoven try the Piano Concerto transcription of the Violin Concerto (I believe it's opus number is "61a"), if not for any other reason, do it for the particularly colorful and bombastic first movement cadenza. [Recording recommendation: Jeno Jando as the soloist]
For Rachmaninoff, you're missing out on the Piano Trio No. 2 in D minor (Op. 9), which is a 50-minute long work and imho is much more emotionally challenging than Rach's 3rd concerto. It's a tribute to Tchaikovsky's trio, and it was written after Tchaikovsky died. (There are MANY good recordings of this fortunately, as most people who play this are emotional and not showy.)
Even though this composer wasn't on your list, may I suggest Busoni's Violin Sonata No. 2 in E minor (Op. 36a)? It is, in my humble opinion, Busoni's greatest achievement and on-par with the violin sonatas of Beethoven. The recording I'd recommend is Gidon Kremer's (Kremer is the violinist, I don't remember who the pianist was but I know for sure it was NOT Argerich).
Next up, Grieg. Richter's recording of the Grieg concerto is a good choice! If you want an insight on this concerto on how it was played in the golden era of pianism, however, I'd suggest one of Grieg's favorite pianists, Arthur de Greef.
Finally, Liszt. Louis Kentner's recordings are very excellent, and deserve more attention. The Ballade No. 2, the Polonaise in C minor, the Dante Sonata, the Apparition No. 1 in F-sharp major.... oh my! The last thing I have to say is, the only recording of La Campanella that suffices for me is Emil von Sauer's recording. (Sauer was a Liszt pupil)
Beethoven: Eric Heidsieck, who most people haven't heard of. I had the lucky pleasure of meeting him, having some lessons, and continuing still to correspond with him, for 21 years. Why him, for Beethoven? Because to me it's the freshest and most spontaneous sounding, always inspiring and interesting. He makes it feel almost like pieces I never heard before.
Good call. Heidsieck is a wonderful pianist. I assume he lives in France, but did he live in NYC for a time?
Beethoven: Eric Heidsieck, who most people haven't heard of. I had the lucky pleasure of meeting him, having some lessons, and continuing still to correspond with him, for 21 years. Why him, for Beethoven? Because to me it's the freshest and most spontaneous sounding, always inspiring and interesting. He makes it feel almost like pieces I never heard before.
Good call. Heidsieck is a wonderful pianist. I assume he lives in France, but did he live in NYC for a time?
No, he hasn't. The way I met him was just a lucky coincidence. The first time I went to the amateur competition in Paris, it so happened that the apartment we stayed in belonged to someone who was a friend of Heidsieck, who was one of the judges in the competition. The guy who owned the apartment was so taken by the coincidence that he immediately put us in touch with Heidsieck, there was instant bonding, Heidsieck invited us over to his place, etc. etc.
BTW my knowing him didn't do me any good in the competition, because he was only a judge for the finals, and I didn't get out of the 1st round.
I will include suggestions for mostly younger, contemporary pianists alongside a couple of older/ historic ones, adding a couple more composers (and limiting choices to recordings on modern pianos, i.e. not historical instruments):
Mozart: Clara Haskil (historic), David Fray Brahms: Julius Katchen Beethoven: Jonathan Biss (historic recordings: Arthur Schnabel) Schumann: Piotr Anderszewski, Jonathan Biss (Biss has a wonderful recording of the Schumann quintet with the Elias String Quartet) Schubert: David Fray Ravel: Louis Lortie Bach: Piotr Anderszewski, Beatrice Rana for Goldberg Variations Franck: George Bolet Scarlatti, Rameau, Ravel: Alexandre Tharaud Rameau: Marcel Meyer
Originally Posted by iaintagreatpianist
For Rachmaninoff, you're missing out on the Piano Trio No. 2 in D minor (Op. 9), which is a 50-minute long work and imho is much more emotionally challenging than Rach's 3rd concerto. It's a tribute to Tchaikovsky's trio, and it was written after Tchaikovsky died. (There are MANY good recordings of this fortunately, as most people who play this are emotional and not showy.)
I agree- haunting piece. I recommend the recording by Artur Pizarro, Christian Tetzlaff and Tanja Tetzlaff. Here is the first movement.
Originally Posted by iaintagreatpianist
Next up, Grieg. Richter's recording of the Grieg concerto is a good choice! If you want an insight on this concerto on how it was played in the golden era of pianism, however, I'd suggest one of Grieg's favorite pianists, Arthur de Greef.
I got to know Arthur de Greef only very recently through PW- was it you who posted about him? Another wonderful Grieg pianist is the Norwegian Sigurd Slåttebrekk. He recorded an album titled "Chasing the Butterfly", an attempt to recreate the few recordings available by Grieg, playing Grieg's own piano. It's a treasure. Slåttebrekk's performance of Grieg's Ballade is unforgettable- here's an extract (the complete piece is 20 minutes long).
Last edited by Ainar; 02/21/2104:42 AM.
"Love has to be the starting point- love of music. It is one of my firmest convictions that love always produces some knowledge, while knowledge only rarely produces something similar to love." Arthur Schnabel
Schubert: Richter, Kempff for the most part Messiaen: So many good ones, but Aimard and Muraro Bach: Im a Gould guy. Also Hewett Mozart: Gulda, Uchida Beethoven: Brendel, Barenboim, Gilels
Beethoven: Eric Heidsieck, who most people haven't heard of. I had the lucky pleasure of meeting him, having some lessons, and continuing still to correspond with him, for 21 years. Why him, for Beethoven? Because to me it's the freshest and most spontaneous sounding, always inspiring and interesting. He makes it feel almost like pieces I never heard before.
Good call. Heidsieck is a wonderful pianist. I assume he lives in France, but did he live in NYC for a time?
No, he hasn't. The way I met him was just a lucky coincidence. The first time I went to the amateur competition in Paris, it so happened that the apartment we stayed in belonged to someone who was a friend of Heidsieck, who was one of the judges in the competition. The guy who owned the apartment was so taken by the coincidence that he immediately put us in touch with Heidsieck, there was instant bonding, Heidsieck invited us over to his place, etc. etc.
BTW my knowing him didn't do me any good in the competition, because he was only a judge for the finals, and I didn't get out of the 1st round.
What a great experience that must have been !!!! And kudos for keeping the friendship going.
I love Brendel's Beethoven sonatas, Rubinstein and Kissin's Chopin, Perahia for Schubert. I'd thought of Uchida for Mozart, have also heard some amazing Mozart from Richard Goode.