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Who are some of your favorit Concert Pianist that you would pay to go to see?

Until he died, Victor Borge.

Definately Victor Borge would have been on my list as well. Also Vladimir Ashkenazy. I would also go out of my way to hear Alessandra Maria Ammara. She was a competitor in the Eleventh Cliburn competition, and even though she didn't make the finals, I was very impressed with her playing.

Oh yeah, almost forgot Lydia Artymiw. I have a recording she made Tchaikovsky's The Season's that is my all time favorite of that set. I would certainly go to great lengths to see her play.

Dan

[ February 03, 2002: Message edited by: Dan ]

And David Helfgott, but I've heard from some that his playing his horrible. In fact, it might even have been someone on this site. I can't remember now. Is this true? I've wanted to hear him play ever since I first saw Shine.

jgoo, there is a cd of him playing, i think it has the rach 3 on it too.

Yes, and I almost bought it, but it was a but more money than I wanted to spend. So, I selected a cheaper CD with the Rach3 on it instead. Its an excellent recording, by Leonard Pennario at the piano. Also, Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Op43 is on the CD. They also had a CD of the Rach3 in which Rachmaninoff himself recorded. Even more expensive that the Helfgott, though.

[ February 03, 2002: Message edited by: jgoo ]

I've been thinking about this question for the past hour or so. Among the younger generation, I'd have to pick Arcadi Volodos.

But the pianist who speaks to me most directly - at least through his recordings - is Radu Lupu, and I'd give anything to hear him live.

i have van cliburn playing the rachmaninov 3rd, it's great i think, but even better is prokofiev's third on the same disc...

i got a chance to see van cliburn in 94, it was pretty neat.

I like Andre Watts, Krystian Zimerman, Alfred Brendel, Murray Perhia, Emanual Ax, Martha Argerich, Yakov Kasman, and others.

In Birmingham, we get frequent tour performances from Andre Watts, Emanual Ax, and Yakov Kasman (Van Cliburn silver medalist in 1997, in residence now at U. of Ala. at Huntsville). Olga Kern (current Cliburn co-gold medalist) is performing at the Stephens Center http://www.alysstephens.org/2001/show.asp?durki=37828 in April, not sure I can go to that one, though my inclination is to give her a hearing.

[ February 03, 2002: Message edited by: MacDuff ]

Two already mentioned that I heartily agree with:

Andre Watts and Volodos. I've really warmed up to the latter lately.

Another lesser known one is Andreas Haefliger, who played a wonderful Beethoven 3rd with the CSO back in October. Helene Grimaud and Awadagin Pratt are also catching a lot of attention.

Well my favorite is Rubinstein even though he is dead.
I also like Martha Argerich, Evgeny Kissin, and Van Cliburn

ARGERICH, Zimmermann, Perhia and Ax

Vladimir Ashkenazy, Maurizio Pollini, Pascal Roge...

and if he were still alive, Liszt... haha...

My favorites are Horowitz and Rubinstein but talking about living pianists y like M.Argerich.

Vladimir Horowitz, Arthur Rubinstein, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Benno Moisiewitsch, Miecyslaw Horszowski, William Kapell, and Wilhelm Kempff, all with us only through recordings--although I was able to hear both Horowitz and Horszowski live.

Among the living, Murray Perahia, Martha Argerich, and Marc-Andre Hamelin.

Richter, Ogdon, Leslie Howard, Freddy Kempf, plus a few that have been mentioned earlier.

i would love to see john ogden too, and howoritz (too bad they're dead)...there is also a pianist i like named arnaldo cohen...i saw howard play here in salt lake about 5 years ago, it was a great performance, he played liszt's second concerto and the totentanz.

I'm also a fan of Peter and Rodulph Serkin. Very different pianists with equally different tastes. Another one whose playing has lots of character and definition is Euguene List (and no, not just for the namesake!).

I've only heard two perfect recitals in my life, one from Horowitz (although that was marred slightly by a strange Chopin g minor Ballade), and one from Brendel, with a perfectly proportioned Wanderer Fantasie. Performances that I also recall with great fondness were from R. Serkin (Brahms Handel variations), and from Navah Perlman (Yithak's daughter, whom I must have heard in 1988 or earlier, if I'm not mistaken). And Murray Perahia has many marvelous recordings. As only three of those are still playing, I'd really make an effort to get to any of their recitals. Sorry I never had a chance to hear Richter.

One of my favorite concerts ever was many years ago, given by Garrick Ohlsson. Don't know what it was, perhaps great seats, who knows, but I still remember the concert. The program was very accessible, I know he played several Chopin Preludes and Moussorgsky's "Pictures..", but a great night.

I have tix to see Lang Lang in a few weeks and will post afterwards of my impressions.

I have to admit, Martha Argerich is not one of my favorites-- perhaps I've just not heard the best CDs and I've never seen her in concert. Everything seems too fast and showy for my taste.

I agree with Amy, Rubinstein was my favorite. I'm also partial to Krystian Zimmerman.

Nina