50 Greatest Pianists

[Bryn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EI7p2p1QJI

Oh, and it's a free concert.

[Alison]

Think I'd bung in Shura Cherkassky for sure.

Pleased to see Steven Osborne being suggested.

I should love to have been at Benjamin Grosvenor's recent QEH recital.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Planning to hear him at City University's Performance Space next Tuesday:

Karl Amadeus Hartmann - Sonata, "27 April 1945" (1945)
Elliott Carter - Piano Sonata (1945-46, revised 1982)
Pierre Boulez - Piano Sonata No. 2 (1947-48)
Serge Prokofiev - Piano Sonata No. 9 in C, op. 103 (1947)

I would have liked to have attended this, I wish recitals like this would happen in my area. I have the Hartmann and must dig it out, the Carter is among my favourite Carter works, it seems years since that was last broadcast on R3.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Oh, and it's a free concert.

[gradus]

Thanks ff for that footage of Cziffra. Blimey.

[Pianorak]

Boris Berezovsky plays Medtner - (you might have to register and log in)

So much for "Medtner is Rachmaninov without the tunes"

http://www.medici.tv/#!/boris-berezovsky-tribute-to-brigitte-engerer-auditorium-du-louvre-2012

[vinteuil]

for me, he really missed out on ( I mean: I would certainly want in my top fifty... ) -

Marcelle Meyer
Yves Nat
Dino Ciani
Edwin Fischer
Christian Zacharias
Malcolm Bilson
Jan Vermeulen
Andreas Staier
Robert Levin
Aldo Ciccolini
Samson François
Georges Cziffra
Ronald Brautigam

[PhilipMC]

Although Peter Donohoe has stated clearly that it is not an exhaustive list of his "great" pianists, there are nevertheless some remarkable omissions of living pianists, of which the most glaring is Mitsuko Uchida, surely one of the all-time greatest pianists.

[french frank]

'Morning, PhilipMC - and welcome!

I'm not sure which is more glaring: the omission of a giant of the past (Cherkassky, Cziffra) or of the present time like Uchida. I can count 10 in the list of 50 that I haven't heard of (unsurprising, actually), but among the current generations, Kissin but not Sokolov? Anne Queffélec but not Uchida? There clearly is a very personal aspect to the choices - which, in fairness, I think was made clear.

[amateur51]

It's human nature of course but isn't it interesting that the discussion here tends to focus on who has been left out, rather than on who has been included ... and why

Re Mitsuko Uchida, maybe Peter Donohoe just prefers Anne Queffélec's performances of Dutilleux to hers

[french frank]

Re Mitsuko Uchida, maybe Peter Donohoe just prefers Anne Queffélec's performances of Dutilleux to hers

Well, I thought when I was writing that that there might also be the element of repertoire associated with the various performers.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It's human nature of course but isn't it interesting that the discussion here tends to focus on who has been left out, rather than on who has been included ... and why

- 'twere ever thus! I suspect that if I ever compiled a list of "50 favourite Dustbinmen", there'd be a mass of responses from fellow Forumistas demanding why I'd missed out X, y and z: and, as soon as I saw their names, I'd also think what an idiot I'd been to miss them out!

I can imagine Mr Donohoe sat at his keyboard smiting his brow and wailing "Uchida! ... Schnabel!! ... Fischer!!! ... How could I have been such an ....

[Richard Tarleton]

for me, he really missed out on ( I mean: I would certainly want in my top fifty... ) -

Edwin Fischer

One of the three pianists Brendel most admired, and whose masterclasses he attended, the others being Cortot and Kempff. Close behind came Schnabel, another omission from PD's list.

[salymap]

One of the three pianists Brendel most admired, and whose masterclasses he attended, the others being Cortot and Kempff. Close behind came Schnabel, another omission from PD's list.

I mentioned Schabel, together with one or two others. But having sat through rehearsal and concert of Schabel's 1st symphony, I can't disassociate him from that. I preferred his piano playing

[ardcarp]

Maybe when the Beeb has a Mandolin Season...why not an Andean Nose Flute Season?....the choice of 50 greatest will not be so controversial.