Favorite Pianists and their recordings - Page 3 - Classical Music Forums

missmaestro · #31 (**permalink**) Mar-18-2008, 18:42

Wilhelm Kempff is AMAZING. YouTube him!

Rachovsky · #32 (**permalink**) Mar-18-2008, 19:50

On Moonlight Sonata, yes...

Rachovsky · #33 (**permalink**) Mar-18-2008, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricIsAPolarBear

Got a Chopin box-set, Chopin - The Chopin Experience; Vladimir Ashkenazy. The recordings I have of Pollini (preludes) and especially !Rubinstein! (nocturnes, trois nouvelles etude, and scherzos) are markedly better from what i've heard of this set so far... but I've never heard a lot of these pieces in the set, it really is great. One thing that annoys me though, on some of the recordings, which took place in different venues at different times, there is quite an audible low hiss noise which is very noticable, especially on the Ballades.

Anyway, i am currently listening to and enjoying Etudes, Op. 10.

I have Maurizio Pollini playing the Op. 10 and Op. 25 of Chopin's etudes. The sound quality is crisp and the speed and precision is great. Try that out.

Bach · #34 (**permalink**) Jun-03-2008, 22:17

For Beethoven and Schumann, Alfred Brendel plays like a genius. Beautiful, introspective, intelligent playing.

For Bach, who else can be recommended but Glenn Gould? - No other pianist comes close to his mathematical, almost computerized accuracy while retaining a human sensitivity which is quite unmatched. (beware of the singing)

oisfetz · #35 (**permalink**) Jun-03-2008, 23:21

Dear Bach, you and I are like the two sides of a coin. I'm against
every one of your opinions. I hate Brendel, and on Gould, IMO his
only great Bach's recording were the Goldbergs.

Andante · #36 (**permalink**) Jun-04-2008, 00:51

Well, for the Goldbergs I still go for Rosalyn Tureck, she is amongst the top in any Bach, I also go for Angela Hewitt particularly "The six Partitas" and just for good measure I will say Emil Gilels and Mikhail Pletnev for Beethoven.

BuddhaBandit · #37 (**permalink**) Jun-04-2008, 01:32

I'd be surprised if nobody mentioned this one... but my all-time favorite piano recording is Alicia De Larrocha's fantastic reading of the Albéniz Iberia suite. Truly a landmark in piano recordings.

Along with that, it's obviously impossible not to like Rubenstein's Chopin, Fleisher's Brahms and Beethoven (the concerti, that is), and Horowitz's Scarlatti. In addition, there's a great young pianist named Gabriela Montero who improvises on Baroque pieces, mostly by Bach. She's very talented and quite worth checking out.

R-F · #38 (**permalink**) Jun-04-2008, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by LFcatface

When I went online this morning I was thrilled to see that a new piano playing star is on the horizon.

Check out the video

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1431281&cache=1

I think based on her photogenic nature she is sure to makea sensation

That's the most adorable thing I've ever seen!

Bach · #39 (**permalink**) Jun-04-2008, 20:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by oisfetz

Dear Bach, you and I are like the two sides of a coin. I'm against
every one of your opinions. I hate Brendel, and on Gould, IMO his
only great Bach's recording were the Goldbergs.

Well, I can understand if you dislike Gould's eccentricities but Brendel plays Beethoven beautifully - I can't really see anything to dislike..

World Violist · #40 (**permalink**) Jun-04-2008, 21:37

People are so opinionated!!!

Anyway, I'll go for the oldies (really) and say that I like Rachmaninoff. His piano rolls are amazing; his playing style was utterly unique and nobody has yet approached his way with the piano.

Then I'll go to a mainstay of piano recorded literature and say that I like Gould's Bach (though I've only really heard his 1981 recording of the Goldberg variations: it left a deep impression on me). I've got to get more of his Bach playing.

oisfetz · #41 (**permalink**) Jun-05-2008, 02:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bach

Well, I can understand if you dislike Gould's eccentricities but Brendel plays Beethoven beautifully - I can't really see anything to dislike..

Well, your opinion is as valid as mine. IMHO Brendel is cold and inexpressive. But
if you like it, is fine. I love Horowitz's Beethoven, but for others is anathema

BuddhaBandit · #42 (**permalink**) Jun-05-2008, 03:03

I've got to go with Bach on Brendel's Beethoven; Brenden's "Emporer" Concerto is marvelous. However, I've always put Leon Fleisher at the top of my Beethoven concerto list. For the sonatas, it's hard to beat Richard Goode (and Emil Gilels).

World Violist · #43 (**permalink**) Jun-05-2008, 03:45

What about Cortot's Beethoven? I've heard that was really good.

BuddhaBandit · #44 (**permalink**) Jun-05-2008, 04:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by World Violist

What about Cortot's Beethoven? I've heard that was really good.

I've heard his Schumann (his Carnaval is especially good), but never his Beethoven. I've always thought his playing was spot-on for peak Romantic composers, so I've never considered him for Beethoven's Classically-oriented Romanticism. I'll have to give it a try, though.

Bach · #45 (**permalink**) Jun-05-2008, 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by oisfetz

Well, your opinion is as valid as mine. IMHO Brendel is cold and inexpressive.

Subtle is the word you're looking for.