Zimerman ......

 

He's 57 years old,if he's not established by now he won't ever be. But he certainly is just a good pianist and that's all.

 

This may be too early to call, but Benjamin Grosvenor (20 y.o.) certainly has something that sets him apart from the rest of the stars.

The interesting thing is that there doesn't seem to be anything truly remarkable coming from Russia. I wonder what happened to their pianist traditions. Of course, they are still producing technical virtuosi, but there doesn't seem to be anyone unusually talented. Perhaps Denis Matsuev (37 y.o.) or Miroslav Kultyshev (27 y.o)...

RD

 

This may be too early to call, but Benjamin Grosvenor (20 y.o.) certainly has something that sets him apart from the rest of the stars.

The interesting thing is that there doesn't seem to be anything truly remarkable coming from Russia. I wonder what happened to their pianist traditions. Of course, they are still producing technical virtuosi, but there doesn't seem to be anyone unusually talented. Perhaps Denis Matsuev (37 y.o.) or Miroslav Kultyshev (27 y.o)...

RD

Yes, nice mentioning here. The fellow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miroslav_Kultyshev) certainly has an a bit nerdy stage presence and a good technique, as in Prokofiev Sonata 7 here:

 

It almost seems, at least in terms of fame and popularity, that it is shaping up as the century of the Asian pianist.

 

Already established: Sokolov. The finest pianist now living. (In the 21st C., so...)

 

I think all her recordings are from 2000 and later: Zhu Xiao-mei. Terrific Bach pianist.

 

David Helfgott

 

Will you stop with the jokes,

 

Except from Grosvenor, there are probably many Russian/Ukrainian and Chinese talents we will hear about in the future. I also like some of Yundi Li´s recordings (Prokofiev, Chopin concerti, Chopin Fantaisie Impromptu), but some would disagree. And Lang-Lang will maybe revise his very extrovert style somewhat ...

 

What makes a great pianistic performance? Well for me, that is produced by an artist who doesn't get in the way of the music...who has the technical skill to perform it without the listener necessarily being aware of the performance...because the artistry and musicality of the performer is serving the ultimate ends of the composer...and one is lost in the music.
I have several cds of Zimerman's that qualify for this description, 100%. What more is required... pianistic display, for its own sake?

 

You haven't understood the OP either---Zimerman has not emerged this century.
Lastly,I nave never seen him quoted as great until now,but if you you think that playing the notes without getting in the way is the ultimate----fine.But one usually talks about X's interpretation.

 

It would have been quite easier if the OP had nominated a year post which the pianist should be born, like 1980...

Here are a few names from the born post 1980 group whose technical ability have impressed me if not always their ability to communicate the music:

Yevgeny Sudbin

Lang Lang

Yundi Li

Benjamin Grosvenor

Yuja Wang

Rafał Blechacz

David Fray

/ptr

 

^ You obviously don't get put much.......

 

The movie was a load of blah and not true to life at all.

 

Or try this

 

Or even this then

 

Ludovico Einaudi. His music may not be the most complex or virtuostic, but you can tell from his performances that he really cares about what he is playing. Also, he is the perfect composer/pianist for those who are not really into classical music. Therefore he is opening doors to the world of classics for those who are not already inside! I have great respect for this man. (Also, he's a really nice guy.)

 

Angela Hewitt. Now there's a real musician.

 

Very fine player she is indeed, but is she not to established to be a 21st Century Pianist? (per the previous discussion)

/ptr

 

what do you all think of this one?

 

Ah! Interesting - her name pops up regularly in concert programmes here in London, and I was curious. Thanks for showing the clip!

...And I think it's pretty bad To me it sounds really bland and boring. And the mannerisms - mamma mia!!! And I thought Helene Grimaud was bad!

What do you think?

RD

 

What do you think?

i think nothing, for i'm not a piano expert... just curious about others opinions.

 

And no smiles during the ovation - prefers seriousness and a quick leave ;-).

 

Finest of the 21st.

Now, I think Mitsuko Uchida has given us some of her finest playing, this century. For example, Beethoven's last piano sonatas, from 29, to 32. To me, it is like I had never heard them before. They are so fresh. The Beethoven, 5 concertos. Mozart concertos, with the Cleveland Orchestra, with Uchida also conducting.

 

Now, I think Mitsuko Uchida has given us some of her finest playing, this century. For example, Beethoven's last piano sonatas, from 29, to 32. To me, it is like I had never heard them before. They are so fresh. The Beethoven, 5 concertos. Mozart concertos, with the Cleveland Orchestra, with Uchida also conducting.

Unfortunately she was born in 1948 which makes her age 65 and she is a Dame of the British Empire so not really of the 21st century. She was well established in the last one.

 

One problem that young pianists have today is that just about everything has been recorded by major artists. The great pianists of the last century have put just about everything down in recording. So the new generation have the problem of being compared with the absolute greats of the previous generation.
So who has something to say?
Volodos is a tremendous pianist to be compared with any.
Yuja Wang also appears to have a certain electricity about her playing.
And so has Lang Lang although I know it's not musically PC to like him.
In Britain there is young Benjamin Grovesnor - a really fantastic talent.

 

They still have the chance to perform and record modern works. Works that Arrau, Kempf, Gould, Richter, etc. either never had a chance to play because they were already dead, or works that are not yet fully explored. Things like Ligeti's Etudes, for instance. I'm sure there are many other works like that.

 

Hewitt is a good example of someone who will span both centuries, which highlights a flaw with my original idea for the discussion.

I think I erred by setting this up as a 21st century discussion. It probably would have been clearer to set it up with an age cutoff of 40 or something like that.

But, even with the flawed premise it has been an interesting discussion.

 

Ursula Oppens...no flies on her.

 

Well, at least we know she must be alive then.

 

I concur. Also, she's a Canadian, like me.

 

Re: Uchida.I believe you are right, but I didn't realize she was that old. She looks like, she's in her early 50's, to me.

 

I think Jonathan Biss, is a fine musician/pianist. He is a great pianist of the 21st century. He is a great Chamber Music artist. I have heard him play at Marlboro Music, for several years. He also, has had several Carnegie Hall concerts recently, that were sold out. He has several records out. One, of the Brahms & Dvorak Piano Quintets, that I love, (with the Elias Quartet) on Onyx label (go to Arkiv.com) is one of his most recent cds.

 

I still gotta listen to a lot more from her but the girl who really excites me when I listen to her playing is Valentina Lisitsa. Her Chopin etudes are among the top five I've ever heard and other works are very exciting as well, including many Beethoven sonatas. I don't love her Mozart but I'm very excited about the Rachmaninov concertos I just ordered of hers on Decca with the LSO. Plus, I used to watch her live in the 90's a lot so we kinda go back. I like Vladimir Feltsman a lot as well as Xiayin Wang.