Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Who do you think is the best pianist?

Who do you think is the best pianist technically and aestheticly? reply for me please.. I just want to know

it's very subjective, and not just one for me. i always like Pollini, his new Chopin Nocturne CD set is stuning technically and musically.

i also think Berezovski is a superb pianist, if not the best. i just watched him last night on youtube playing Mephisto waltz, which is incredible (just look at his hands):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG6CElEVMSw

Dubravka Tomsic, from Slovenia and Evgeny Kissin-for classical music (see link below)

Chick Corea- for jazz and jazz fusion

Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman-for progressive rock


Evgeny Kissin

Chick Corea

Rick Wakeman

Don't forget, Chick and Rick compose this stuff as well!!!!

Right now, Perahia.

I'm rather fond of Andras Schiff. Berezovsky's nice.

But I'd have to vote for Hamelin as the winner.

There are many technically exciting, emotionally moving and superb world-class pianists. There is no "best" pianist.

Regards,

Bruce is right, there are hundreds of brilliant pianists of our time and it is unrealistic to think at "one" would be the absolute BEST.


Matt

Although I second the sentiments of Matt and BruceD, I would say the greatest living pianist is Maurizio Pollini. There is no dearth of young, talented pianists today (Yundi Li, Klára Würtz, to give just two of my personal favorites) but Pollini has repeartedly proven himself in the most demanding repertoire, over nearly 50 years. He takes top dog, IMHO.

Craig

Argerich of course! I believe Argerichfan will back me up here as well.

Franz Liszt, of course!

Of course, that's correct!

Yes, of course! Liszt's bust sits beside my piano (Beethoven's picture is at the end of it). Too bad he didn't make any piano rolls! I was thrilled, seeing him and Hans von Bulow together in the DVD, "The Life Of Wagner," from a nine-part mini-series starring Richard Burton. Highly recommended.


Craig

Patrick Weikle....and it's not even close

I would say the greatest living pianist is Maurizio Pollini.

He is certainly amongst the greats still alive.

As Gramophone had it: "Critics are not paid to be lost for words. But then human beings are not supposed to be able to play the piano like Pollini."



-Michael B.

Alfred Brendel, Grigorij Sokolov, Daniel Barenboim haven't been mentioned so far - they should be in with the others as well. I would disagree with the concept of "the greatest" pianist alive, I would consider it more to be a kind of Pantheon, with everyone having his or her speciality (which of course may overlap).

And technically impressive (though aesthetically an absolute nightmare): Olli Mustonen.

Markus

There are too many pianists, each with their own qualities. Even Lang Lang has given some good performances.

People believe that Kissin is overrated but I believe he is underrated in terms of the critics. Claims that he has no emotion or unmusical make no sense to me. Granted, some of his recordings have been lackluster and lacking true feeling, but those are really only a few.

Apparently playing right notes is a fault. It can be if there is nothing else present in the performance, but one thing I admire regarding Kissin is his ability to play all the right notes clearly and convey emotion and musicality at the same time. Often times with pianists it is one or the other. Either every note is right but is played mechanically or there is an abundance of wrong notes (sometimes even to the point of irritation) but a lot of emotion and feeling (a la Horowitz).

Many will disagree with me, I know. But then again, what music isn't subjective. I believe Kissin has a large enough fan base and has a consistent enough record of drawing massive crowds and dazzling them to be considered a top pianist, and certainly one of the best.

I would rate Kissin as one of the best - the Chopin performances I heard from him (now almost 15 years ago, I think) in Berlin were simply breathtaking - very musical.
Judging pianists from a recording is unfair - you never know what has been done with the recording (improvement or the opposite) later, and recordings just lack the immediacy of a live recital.

Markus

There is none.

OK then, I'll change my vote to... Alkan!

Even Liszt was afraid of his technique.

...and I'm going to see/hear him next week in Hamburg's Laeiszhalle!

Mike