Who Is The Best Classical Pianist Ever?

[Dinger]

Poll question: Who Is The Best Classical Pianist Ever?

Link: http://www.mytopdozen.com/Best_Classical_Pianists.html

[nickinSTL]

1. I love Liszt's compositions...

but having never heard him play, I can't really compare.

I don't really know a lot about the best pianists - I've heard some of their recordings (and saw Rubinstein live on TV once), but...don't know any of them well enough to make a fair comparison.

My dad likes Rubinstein best, but also likes Van Cliburn. :shrug:

[Captain Hilts]

2. Horowitz with a tip of my hat to Van Cliburn, Oscar Levant and Clara Schuman. nt

[RainDog]

3. Mozart

[Shell Beau]

12. Yes, and I give credit to Beethoven since his hearing

greatly diminished as he went on. Both were geniuses, but Beethoven was greatly inspired by Mozart.

[lukasahero]

15. I never heard Mozart play

was he any good?

:rofl:

[cbdo2007]

17. agreed - you don't need to hear him "play"

You can hear it in what he's written.

A piano player is just a "player" whereas the true geniuses are the creators.

[Zomby Woof]

4. Rudolf Serkin

Maybe not the best, but deserves a mention in the Top 5. I have a recording of his performance with the Boston Symphony of Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto, and it's a great one.

(This is not the recording, but it's the closest I could find):

[hayu_lol]

5. If you like Chopin,

then Lincoln Mayorga(google him).

Mid 70s now and still touring the country.

[Ron Green]

6. Beethoven was considered the best of his time, and his

was a pretty heavy time.

[mvd]

25. Agreed

:hi:

[Lionel Mandrake]

7. Moura Lympany

[JeffR]

8. Glenn Gould, bar none.

With apologies to some incredible musicians on that list.

[MilesColtrane]

11. +1

Glen Gould practicing Bach at home:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB76jxBq_gQ&feature=related

[Gormy Cuss]

14. He was one of the more fascinating, to be sure.

No one in modern times played Bach any better.
He also did a lot of duets with the piano. :D

[bif]

18. Yep.

[Captain Hilts]

21. His name should certainly be on this list. How we can compare Beethoven to someone whose recordings

we have heard, I do not know.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

9. I was lucky.

I saw Rubinstein and Cliburn live.

Rubinstein played a full recital when I was in high school and he was a kid of EIGHTY-TWO!!!

[Dinger]

10. Some Thought Liszt Was Possessed By The Devil He Was So Good

or was that Paganini (violinist)?

[hayu_lol]

20. Dinger...that was Paganini...

he had a rare joint disorder that allowed him to do some impossible stunts.

Another thing he did was to tune his violin a half step up from the norm...gave his sound a 'brightness' that others could not emulate. No question he was a genius...by tuning higher, everything he did had to be transposed.

[Dinger]

23. That Guy Was Unreal

Wish there was audio of him. Jasha Heifitz comes close I think.

[Fire Walk With Me]

13. How to choose?

I cannot, so I shall attempt to enjoy what is available from each, if and where possible.

[lukasahero]

16. Agreed

I like Vladimir Horowitz for Beethoven and Chopin, Van Cliburn for Chopin, Ashkenazy for Beethoven and Gould for Bach. I don't want to rate them against each other but just like to enjoy them for their talent.

[edbermac]

19. Schroeder

The man...the legend...

[MrSlayer]

22. J.S. Bach

The original headbanger.

[OmahaBlueDog]

24. Sviatoslav Richter

...and it ain't even close

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sviatoslav_Richter