Guardian 'The Artists' Artist' - Pianists

[Guest]

The Guardian asked the following to name their favourite pianist of all time and explain their choice. Leaving the v interesting explanations aside, the selections were:
Stephen Hough > Alfred Cortot
Leif Ove Andsnes > Dinu Lipatti
Angela Hewitt > Alfred Cortot
Vladimir Ashkenazy > Rachmaninov
Freddy Kempf > Vladimir Horowitz
Pierre-Laurent Aimard > Aloys Kontarsky
Jean-Yves Thibaudet > Arthur Rubinstein

Ashkenazy also mentioned Gilels, Serkin and Michelangeli (and I agree) - "...their greatness has nothing to do with brilliance but with their understanding..."

Is that a sensible list? Any additions anybody?

[cavatina]

I'm not sure who his "all-time favorite" was, but Vladimir Horowitz admired Josef Lhevinne (1874-1944). Listening to this, it's easy to see why:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LScbDl4dMEM&feature=related

[BBMmk2]

Yes agreed to the first posting. I can see why to. My favourite pianist would beHorovitz, with Ashkenazy, John Ogdon, Jack Gibbons, Richard Farrell and Emil Gilels to.

[vinteuil]

... without question, Joyce Hatto. Or possibly Ida Haendel...

[Pianorak]

... without question, Joyce Hatto. . .

Certainly the critics' favourite!

[rauschwerk]

Solomon. A fabulous technique, always placed at the service of the music (listen to the first movement of the 'Hammerklavier' in his hands). Capable also of the most refined poetic playing (Chopin Berceuse, or Nocturne Op. 27/2). Horowitz thought him boring, but surely cannot have heard his electrifying recording of the Liszt Hungarian Fantasia.

[amateur51]

... without question, Joyce Hatto. Or possibly Ida Haendel...

[salymap]

Solomon, Myra Hess, Clifford Curzon [on a good day], from the past. Also Artur Rubinstein for some wonderful concerts and recitals I have heard him play in. Alfred Brendel, Barenboim, Uchida probably today.

[antongould]

Rubinstein also and Glenn Gould!

[amateur51]

Solomon. A fabulous technique, always placed at the service of the music (listen to the first movement of the 'Hammerklavier' in his hands). Capable also of the most refined poetic playing (Chopin Berceuse, or Nocturne Op. 27/2). Horowitz thought him boring, but surely cannot have heard his electrifying recording of the Liszt Hungarian Fantasia.

I agree completely, rauschwerk. His early retirement from the concert platform and the recording studio (he was 56?) was a considerable loss. My father often spoke fondly of seeing Solomon performing for the troops in the desert during WWII, including Beethoven's Moonlight sonata, and I reflect that had he enjoyed better health I might easily have seen him in his 70s when he could well have been still in top form. Instead, I treasure his recordings

[Pianorak]

Joanna MacGregor - and not only for her imaginative and adventurous programming. She runs the whole gamut from Alkan via Bach and Messiaen to Zappa - and her latest recording of Satie is simply superb.

That said my favourite usually tends to be my latest discovery which is right now: Rafael Orozco playing Iberia by Albeniz. Such beauty of tone and dynamic range from ppppp to fffff is just astonishing.

[Osborn]

I found the Guardian link to the comments of the pianists mentioned in #1:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/may/25/artists-artist-pianists?INTCMP=SRCH

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i am struck by how often Cortot gets this kind of recommendation and confess to ignorance of his work any thoughts on best to look for?

i must also confess to being pretty underwhelmed by both Horowitz and Rubinstein ... but find Lipatti absolutely compelling ... and i would assert that Perahia is well up in any all time list

[Ferretfancy]

amateur51

I absolutely agree with all the praise for Solomon, to have suffered a stroke at the height of his powers was tragic. I never saw him play, but he could often be seen attending concerts on the South Bank, supporting other younger pianists. I particularly treasure his performances of the Grieg and Schumann concertos, the Grieg was the first stereo recording I ever heard, on a huge tape machine at the HMV shop.

On R3 this morning we could hear Rachmaninov playing Carnaval in 1929, amazing playing, but I thought he rushed his fences a bit, which often happens in this piece.

[vinteuil]

... among the oldies, for me - Cortot, Schnabel, Rubinstein, Marcelle Meyer, Yves Nat, Ciani, Michelangeli, Richter.

From the more recent, the ones I find extra-special wd include Zacharias, Zimerman, Hamelin, Staier, Tharaud, Levin.