Hey Everyone !!!!

Out of curiousity, I just want to know who is everyone's favourite pianist of all time??? For me,
it's :
Alfred Brendel..... He is just AWESOME!!! HIs Haydn, Mozart, and Schubert are just AMAZING!!!! What does anyone think of Phillipe Entremont??? I have his Debussy CD.... but, I heard Boris Berman is so much better...
Martha Argerich.... another favourite...
Glenn Gould (his Bach are just SENSATIONAL!!!!)
Daniel Barenboim..... another Brilliant Pianist!!!

What about you guys?????

xoxo,
Maxalear

I like listening to Daniel Barenboim too.
Also, David Osborne plays well also. (I don't know whether you know him or not. I borrowed a CD played by him and I found his performance amazing with a very special personality!

I like Alfred Brendel too. I also like Mikhail Pletnev and Paul Lewis.

myself

QUOTE (Alvin @ Jun 5 2004, 01:56 PM)

I like listening to Daniel Barenboim too. Also, David Osborne plays well also. (I don't know whether you know him or not. I borrowed a CD played by him and I found his performance amazing with a very special personality!

David Osborne.... I haven't heard him play....but... I highly recommend Yundi Li.... he plays superb Chopin... and I also liked Nikolai Demidenko...I went to his concerts 2 months ago.. he played Mozart, Vorisek, and Schubert..... As always, it was beautiful!!!! I was deeply moved by his playing... I truly think he is a wonderful pianist!! Have you heard of Stephen Hough?? What do you guys think of him???

xoxox,
Maxalear

QUOTE (Mrs Beethoven @ Jun 5 2004, 02:48 PM)

myself

Nice one

QUOTE (cressida @ Jun 5 2004, 05:12 PM)

QUOTE (Mrs Beethoven @ Jun 5 2004, 02:48 PM) myself Nice one

well she is Mrs Beethoven after all!!lol

glenn gould - just for how unique he is! others include vladimir ashkenazy, arcadi volodos, martin roscoe, john lill, michael schreider, oh and my piano teacher!

Ludovico Einaudi!

I'm not sure, I haven't really heard a lot of piano music. I've got a pile of Schiff in front of me though, so I'm wondering if I'll like him.

QUOTE (Mrs Beethoven @ Jun 5 2004, 02:48 PM)

myself

You are right!!! We must be our own favourite pianist... Hehe. I want to be my own favourite pianist too.

Maksim the piano player. Has anyone on this forum ever heard about him?

very skilled and talented plus handsome guy.

natalia

hi!

chopin
prokofiev
poulenc!!!

QUOTE (Mrs Beethoven @ Jun 5 2004, 02:48 PM)

myself

hahaha.... nice one!

QUOTE

Maksim the piano player. Has anyone on this forum ever heard about him?

Is that Maksim Vengerov ??

I've heard him on the radio.
not sure if my spelling is correct.

Maggie

QUOTE (indo @ Jun 7 2004, 04:44 AM)

Maksim the piano player. Has anyone on this forum ever heard about him? very skilled and talented plus handsome guy. natalia

Are you talking about Maksim Mrvica???

No, it's Maksim Mrvica, a croation but currently resides in London due to contract signed with EMI music. He is classical pianist but recently made a recording called the piano player in which he mixed classical with techno (just like Vanesa Mae).

the album is new and is famous in asian countries, and probably soon will be famous in London and US too (I hope )

Natalia

I would go with Martha Argerich.
I was lucky enough to see her play Carnegie Hall a few years ago, and it was well worth the ticket from London to NYC.

Her Bach is pure and distilled, whilst her Prokoviev thumps along with incisive rhythmic drive. Needless to say her Chopin is exquisite...

I also enjoy John Lill for his Beethoven, Richter for his Rach 2.

Check out Jorge Bolet. His Liszt is SUPERB!!!! There has been a lot of chat recently about La Campanella. Bolet's recording is simply divine. He concentrates on the SOUND, not the speed, and exercises TOTAL control. His rounded, rich tone is perfect for this piece. You will be converted!!!

Glenn Gould, of course, is the Bach-ian. However, I find his vocal gymnastics can be a touch intrusive.

Mike

In fact I like listening to Yundi Li and Maksim Mrvica too!
I borrowed CDs of Yundi Li from public library, including all of his recordings during the 14th International Chopin Piano Competition. I appreciate his techniques yet some people say he doesn't play with enough emotions comparing to Lang Lang.
I bought Maksim's Piano player. I love listening to this kind of music. I am now very familiar with all the tracks/pieces in that CD. It is fantastic!

Hello All,

I don't normally respond to general discussion threads on these forums - but just wanted to let maggiemay know that Maxim Vengerov is a Russian violinist. He comes from Novosibirsk in South West Siberia.

I heard him play just last week at the Royal Festival hall in London, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - and he brought tears to my eyes! He was absolutely amazing [my personal opinion!]

Martha Argerich, is one dynamic, electrifying, and beautiful pianist.... she is just remarkable.... her Chopin is very good.. I haven't heard her play live though.... would love too..... So far, I think that Nikolai Demidenko, Yundi Li, Boris Berman, and Stanislav Bunin is my favourite.... Bunin has such refined playing.... his Chopin is Exquisite... Yundi Li is another Chopin expert, he brought tears to my eyes with his playing of Chopin ...... and....Nikolai's playing has clarity, has tonal beauty & balance, and very musical... I went to his concert in April...and truly truly enjoyed the concert... it was soo worth it....

Maxalear

QUOTE (maxalear @ Jun 8 2004, 10:25 AM)

Martha Argerich, is one dynamic, electrifying, and beautiful pianist.... she is just remarkable.... her Chopin is very good.. I haven't heard her play live though.... would love too..... So far, I think that Nikolai Demidenko, Yundi Li, Boris Berman, and Stanislav Bunin is my favourite.... Bunin has such refined playing.... his Chopin is Exquisite... Yundi Li is another Chopin expert, he brought tears to my eyes with his playing of Chopin ...... and....Nikolai's playing has clarity, has tonal beauty & balance, and very musical... I went to his concert in April...and truly truly enjoyed the concert... it was soo worth it.... Maxalear

Oh oh.... what about Evgeny Kissin!!! He's soo talented that pianist! Have anyone heard of John Ogdon?? or Krystian Zimmerman?? And...who is Paul Badura Skoda??? Is he a pianist???

Maxalear

QUOTE

just wanted to let maggiemay know that Maxim Vengerov is a Russian violinist. He comes from Novosibirsk in South West Siberia.

Yes - many thanks ! After I had posted I had a feeling that I'd had a mental aberration.

Of course I have heard him on the radio many times. Great you had the opportunity to hear him live. Thanks for putting the record straight.

Maggie

QUOTE (maxalear @ Jun 8 2004, 10:29 AM)

Oh oh.... what about Evgeny Kissin!!!

I saw him live just a few weeks ago; he was utterly incredible. I have the programme here: he played

Chopin: Two polonaises, op 26
Four Impromptus
Polonaise in c minor, op 40 no 2
Polonaise in Ab, op 53

Medtner: Sonate reminiscenza in a minor, op 38 no 1

Stravinsky: Petrushka: three movements for solo piano

He absolutely flew threw the fantaisie-impromptu, and played the heroic polonaise with so much flair; and the Stravinsky was a great finale.

Lang Lang is my favorite pianist. He played Islamey(Oriental Fantasy) beautifully. I really like his live performances. His style of performing can always motivate the audience's mood.
Yundi Li is great too.
And also Earl Wild also. I like his toccata in C [schumann].

QUOTE (maxalear @ Jun 8 2004, 10:25 AM)

Martha Argerich, is one dynamic, electrifying, and beautiful pianist.... she is just remarkable.... her Chopin is very good.. I haven't heard her play live though.... would love too..... So far, I think that Nikolai Demidenko, Yundi Li, Boris Berman, and Stanislav Bunin is my favourite.... Bunin has such refined playing.... his Chopin is Exquisite... Yundi Li is another Chopin expert, he brought tears to my eyes with his playing of Chopin ...... and....Nikolai's playing has clarity, has tonal beauty & balance, and very musical... I went to his concert in April...and truly truly enjoyed the concert... it was soo worth it.... Maxalear

At the Carnegie concert, she played solo in the first half, including the Bach Partita 2, Chopin scherzo in c#, and the Prok 7. This last piece concluded the first half, and brought the whole of the hall to a standing ovation. A friend I was with sat in TOTAL awe at the final movement of the Prok. Pile driving LH which never let up.
Her standing ovation lasted 20+mins, and included more than 10 call backs.

The second half was with the Juillard Quartet, (Schumann Quintet), followed by duets with Nelson Freira. Once again, the whole place blew up at the end, and gave a NONSTOP standing ovation for about 30 mins. (Punctuated by a couple of solos with NF). Truly one of the GREATEST concerts I will probably ever experience.

Yundi Li played here in Singapore last year, and it was technically amazing. His encores included La Campanella, (superbly played), and the Rogoletto Paraphrase. Needless to say he is a big favourite with the local crowd.

Lang Lang has yet to make it here, but I'm hoepful. I missed his Wigmore recital last year, but I'm hearing great things about him.

MM

QUOTE (maxalear @ Jun 8 2004, 10:29 AM)

QUOTE (maxalear @ Jun 8 2004, 10:25 AM) Martha Argerich, is one dynamic, electrifying, and beautiful pianist.... she is just remarkable.... her Chopin is very good.. I haven't heard her play live though.... would love too..... So far, I think that Nikolai Demidenko, Yundi Li, Boris Berman, and Stanislav Bunin is my favourite.... Bunin has such refined playing.... his Chopin is Exquisite... Yundi Li is another Chopin expert, he brought tears to my eyes with his playing of Chopin ...... and....Nikolai's playing has clarity, has tonal beauty & balance, and very musical... I went to his concert in April...and truly truly enjoyed the concert... it was soo worth it.... Maxalear Oh oh.... what about Evgeny Kissin!!! He's soo talented that pianist! Have anyone heard of John Ogdon?? or Krystian Zimmerman?? And...who is Paul Badura Skoda??? Is he a pianist??? Maxalear

John Ogden was a british pianist of SUPERB technical skill. He could sight-read anything. In fact, there is a story of him reading the scores to the Bartok Piano Concerti on the way to a series of concerts, before playing themwith minimal practise/rehearsal.

Unfortunately, his genius manifested itself in idiosyncratic ways, and he finally committed suicide after a lot of emotional turmoil. His ex wife, (Brenda Lucas, I believe), wrote about him.

Check out his recordings of Liszt. He was very very good.

Also, on the topic of 'super-virtuousi', listen to Marc-Andre Hamelin. He is truly amazing. His recording of the Godowsky transcriptions of Chopin's studies is jaw-dropping. He makes it sound SO SO easy. (For example, the op10 no4 played LH only - the op10 no12 played LH only, (this will just BLOW YOU AWAY!!!!!), the op10 no3 played LH only. etc etc etc
A friend of mine knows him, and he says you need to SEE him play to believe it.

Technical genius coupled with emotional connectivity. Seldom seen together.

MM

I saw Godowsky's transcription of Chopin's etudes on the web. I downloaded them but I didn't print them out. (My printer soon goes out of ink now.)
I read a little bit of the scores.
They are really difficult! The key of Revolutionary Etude Op.10 No.12 is changed to C sharp minor. I think it will be more difficult.
I am very familiar with the original version. I think I will have more chance to play this piece probably.
I try to print it out and give it a try now.

I agree with the person who mentioned Krystian Zimerman. I also love Vladimir Horowitz (sadly deceased), the little I heard of Yundi Li and Martha Argerich.

I have a CD of Glenn Gould's Bach and I love it. One of the liveliest, most dynamic interpretations I have heard and it is wonderful. The humming was there but just very slightly and didn't bother me that much.

There are many speciailists I enjoy, but overall it's Zimerman and Horowitz for now.

My teacher loves Zimerman too, and worships Argerich. He is in awe of her ultra fast arpeggios and octaves. This is from a man *I* am in awe with because I think he is amazing!

I'd love to have heard Chopin and Liszt themselves play! Unfortunately recordings didn't exist at that time. Sigh.

Andrei Gavrilov anyone?
I like Vladimir Ashkenazy too.. hmm.. all the Russians

I like mozart his piano pecies are really cool i luv playing his ones... I just find them easy.. beatoven is alright aswell quite hard sum bits.

QUOTE (BabyBanana @ Jun 13 2004, 05:32 PM)

I like mozart his piano pecies are really cool i luv playing his ones... I just find them easy.. beatoven is alright aswell quite hard sum bits.

Socks,
i have never heard of andrei gavrilov before, he is a russian? Oh, wait, have you heard of Mikhail Pletnev? He is such a great pianist that guy.... I wish to hear Alfred Brendel play here in Australia... He is a legend with Haydn, Mozart, and Schubert.....

What do you guys think of Musical Prodigies? Do you think that only musical prodigies are the ones that are bound to get far with their music coz the area of music is SO competitive.....it demands only EXCELLENCE and nothing else?? Have you met one before?

QUOTE (maxalear @ Jun 17 2004, 01:31 PM)

have you heard of Mikhail Pletnev? He is such a great pianist that guy....

I have been to one of his recitals - phenomenal.

what do people think of Jeno Jando?

Maxalear, I went to a Gavrilov concert some time back. He played Rach 3 - it was fabulous. After the concerto, he played Bach's WTC for encore until it was so late that the organisers made him stop. Later I heard a recording of his Goldberg Variations - personally, I prefer his to Glenn Gould's. Yup, I've heard Mikhail Platnev too.. Russian again..

Yeah, this field is very competitive, unfortunately.. makes one wonder whether music making it's for the love of it or for survival. I haven't met musical prodigies personally, but have been to some supposedly "musical prodigies'" concert, in which the kids performed concerto movements. True, they may have wonderful memory and even superb technique, but they failed to make Rachmaninov sound as poignant as it should have been. And what's the point of making innocent children experience the weight of Rach when they do best at Mozart now. I feel the prodigy affair may be a business of vanity in some aspects.

Hm... Well, Singapore does have one child prodigy at the moment, Abigail ___. I've heard her play before. Though her technique was flawless, personally, I felt that she didn't give enough depth to her music. After all, I'm not sure whether a young child is able to fully comprehend the beauty of Romantic pieces. But she's fantastic with Classical

Anyone here heard of Granger? The Australian pianist/composer? He rewrote a couple of Liszt's and Chopin's works into only one hand. (the left) He also specialises in music for 8 or 12 hands. He's an interesting composer, but many people believe that his rewritten pieces lose the original beauty. He's still my favourite though.

Noriko Ogawa- Her Debussy is just fantastic!! She is one of these performers that no-one else can even come close to in terms of expression-she plays the pieces as if she had written them herself.

Debussy- I have a CD of Debussy playing his first book of Preludes and Estampes- what else can I say?- fantastic.

Maria Joao Pires- I only actually own one of her CDs (Chopin-Nocturnes) but have borrowed others from libraries- her performances are interesting, as she varies the sounds created by the piano, to the extent where it seems as if she is playing every phrase on a different model...

QUOTE (maxalear @ Jun 17 2004, 01:31 PM)

What do you guys think of Musical Prodigies? Do you think that only musical prodigies are the ones that are bound to get far with their music coz the area of music is SO competitive.....it demands only EXCELLENCE and nothing else?? Have you met one before?

Hmmm that's a difficult question. I think that it's extremely difficult to become a soloist on instruments like piano and violin if you aren't a prodigy, but I don't think it's impossible. For instruments like that, it is sooo competitive, and obviously if you're a prodigy you have a massive head start.
But I agree with Socks when they said that children can't convey the emotion behind some of the great music that they are technically able to play, and that is something that can only really come with age and experience.
I have a little cousin who appears to be something of a 'prodigy'. He plays the violin, will be 8 years old in September, and is doing his Grade 5 this term. He started when he was nearly 4. He doesn't actually work hard at the violin- he does about 15-20 mins practice a day- it just seems to come naturally to him. His parents have no wish to push him into music, and if one day he wanted to give up I think they'd let him. But I think many child prodigies have only got to the standard they have because their parents have pushed them so hard, and I'm sure that causes lots of problems for them as adults.
So in general.......I think it's better not to be a prodigy!

silvery... is it Sin? Hmm.. I don't really like her playing but my friend is fascinated by her. And Benjamin ___. Yeah, some kids just have the gift... makes me so jealous!! so insanely jealous!!!!

I think mine is probably Wladyslaw Szpilman, the polish pianist from the war. I also like Dmitri Alexeev (previous winner of the Leeds) and a girl called Mariko Ono who I saw playing some very difficult Chopin pieces! There are loads of others which I like aswell though! I don't think much of Einaudi as in my opinion all his pieces sound the same as each other.

I like old pianist like J.F.Burgmuller who composed Arabesques I can do it and my son can do it but he can do it much more faster than me.

OMG

Maksim Mrvica!!!

he's the hottest and most fantastic pianist ever!

he's the best!! i owe everything to him .

---> I'm Sara and you may have visited my Maksim MSN group before lol

Yes, nearly all the people already listed by others. How difficut it is to come up with a favourite.

I am surprised that noone has mentioned Mitsuko Uchida (or maybe I missed it!).

Her Mozart, especially, is sheer heaven.

QUOTE (Silver pianist @ Jun 21 2004, 08:59 AM)

Yes, nearly all the people already listed by others. How difficut it is to come up with a favourite. I am surprised that noone has mentioned Mitsuko Uchida (or maybe I missed it!). Her Mozart, especially, is sheer heaven.

I agree. Mitsuko plays sublime Mozart. Her Schubert is also pretty good, and I would recommend people checking out her discography.

I was also fortunate to hear her play the Beethoven Cmin Variations a while back. Superb, once again.

She really understands the nedd to communicate to the audience.

When asked why she plays so well, her answer was,

"I play what is written".

Of course, the underlying philosophy of this statement could fuel ANOTHER thread.

M

Sometimes i think society should consider other ppl who start music at a late age.

not only prodigies.

QUOTE (MikeSG @ Jun 22 2004, 02:32 AM)

[/QUOTE] When asked why she plays so well, her answer was, "I play what is written". Of course, the underlying philosophy of this statement could fuel ANOTHER thread. M

Hm... If a pianist only plays what it written, can he/she be considered a good pianist? Or merely a parroter? I had this discussion in MEP once, and some interesting comments were made.

One shared comment was that it depended on the period the music belonged to. After all, for Classical works, few dynamics/articulation etc. are given by the composer (mainly suggestions from the editor) as compared to the modern period, where pieces come littered with dynamics. (Well, maybe not all, but at least from Bartok and some Debussy pieces)

QUOTE (Silver pianist @ Jun 21 2004, 08:59 AM)

Yes, nearly all the people already listed by others. How difficut it is to come up with a favourite. I am surprised that noone has mentioned Mitsuko Uchida (or maybe I missed it!). Her Mozart, especially, is sheer heaven.

Hello Silver Pianist.....
Yes, I must admit, Mitsuko Uchida are just fantastic for Mozart.........(i have heard her cd playing Sonata In D Major K 576 - adagio movt...... yes, quite sublime)....... Very very good!! How about Alicia De Larocha? She wasn't mentioned much these days....I wonder what she's up to? Is she doing any more concerts? I love her Albeniz performances...she's very good at playing Spanish Songs.....
I think I agree with most of you, the fact that prodigies may have the technical ability to play extraordinarily hard pieces, but they lacked the musical depth and understanding...which ....as you say, come with age and maturity... I know a guy who is ONLY 16, and he has completed Licentitate Diploma in First Class Honours, and is participating in Sydney International Piano Competition! One wonders how he could ever tackle anything like this! I just look at him, and gasp! Unbelivable....astounding....and.....standing ovation!
Maxalear!

[QUOTE=silvery,Jun 23 2004, 05:24 PM][QUOTE=MikeSG,Jun 22 2004, 02:32 AM] [/QUOTE]
When asked why she plays so well, her answer was,

"I play what is written".

Of course, the underlying philosophy of this statement could fuel ANOTHER thread.

M [/QUOTE]
Hm... If a pianist only plays what it written, can he/she be considered a good pianist? Or merely a parroter? I had this discussion in MEP once, and some interesting comments were made.

One shared comment was that it depended on the period the music belonged to. After all, for Classical works, few dynamics/articulation etc. are given by the composer (mainly suggestions from the editor) as compared to the modern period, where pieces come littered with dynamics. (Well, maybe not all, but at least from Bartok and some Debussy pieces)[/QUOTE]
Some Debussy pieces are an exercise in French translation!

As to Mitsuko's statement, I think this is the difference between being just brilliant, and a genius!!!

I agree that it depends on the era, but, to a large extent, I suppose it also has to do with research.

Reading around a composer's life, (in addition to biographical essays), allows for a more rounded perspective and understand of his 'true intent'.

It is this ability to get into a composer's thinking which allows some pianists to project certain composers with more 'authority'.

Eg, Mitusko and Mozart, Brendel and Beethoven.

I remember reading, a while back, an interview with John Lill, in which he says that he sometimes 'sees' the composer on stage. I think he mentioned Beethoven specifically, and also hinted at Prokoviev.
Perhaps it is an extra dimension of understanding which makes for a more profound experience, (for both performer and audience).

Mike

what about Arthur Rubinstein? I find his Beethoven sonatas are brilliantly played.. and Dubravka Tomsic? She's also Croatian.. I have a few of her recordings too.

Child prodigies.. hum! I wish I was one, naturally.. Of course, for listening's sake, it's always better to hear the piece played by someone older than it played by a 12-year-old.. but i personally wouldn't mind touring the world giving concerts! what a brilliant life!

As for interpreting pieces, it depends upon the style period.. a pianist playing a Romantic piece "as it was written" is not a very good pianist, I think. But then a pianist playing a Baroque piece "as it was written" is an appropriate pianist. But of course, every interpreter should give a bit of him/herself with the performance. Otherwise, it's just like when the computer plays those Midi files! Awful!

QUOTE

I had this discussion in MEP once

wow. You are in the elective programme? You know what? I'm utterly fascinated by what students do at the elective programme. I didn't manage to get myself into the programme at primary six, but I'll definitely give it a shot at JC. I can't wait. What's the programme like?

Anyway, I feel that yes, for pieces from the earlier periods, you should play what was written by the composer. However, my teacher did raise an interesting point about pianos at that time. What if Beethoven had a modern upright piano? Would he have composed music of a different style? Perhaps say more dramatic? We will never know. Thus, she advises me to exercise some discretion even when playing Baroque and Classical pieces. Oh well.

Romantic pieces are definitely the best. They're my favourite.

Oops. I digressed a little. Well, I haven't heard even pianists yet to judge for myself who derserves to be my favourite pianist, but I'll come up with one soon. Maksim is good though. I think he managed to meld classical music with contemporary music pretty well.

To each his own.