Classical piano solo—Your one favorite performance and recording


What would you choose if you only had one choice for the desert island?

Here’s one to start with:

J. S. Bach - Goldberg Variations BMV 988

Glenn Gould (Zenph re-performance)

‘Sony Classical SACD

Sharing of your favorites appreciated!

 

cb77

Yes, I would have to agree that Glenn Gould's recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations must be among my favorite classical solo piano pieces, although he was more famous for his unique interpretations as opposed to the standard, establishment interpretations.  Another one of my favorite classical solo piano pieces are any of Chopin's works performed by Claudio Arrau, who, again, was probably more famous because of his unique interpretations. 

That post by @mikelavigne must be bookmarked under the new favourites folder titled Clueless.

@noske that's very mean spirited.

did you even read my whole post? i was very clear to say that i'm not expert on classical. just talking about what i like. here is the last sentence of my post.

please note i'm not expert on classical performance, but it is mostly what i listen to. i love it.

had i previously offended you? or just in the mood for spite?

@mikelavigne 

Thankyou for clarifying that you are not an expert on classical music despite that it is mostly what you listen to.

Liszt was not of the Classical school. He was a Hungarian composer, pianist and teacher of the Romantic period.

Just the facts.  No priors.

Now, if the question was what is the favourite piano solo and recording of a composer from the Romantic school, I'd listen, rather than question.

@noske 

it’s not that complicated. the term ’Classical Music’ can be used in more than one context.

just the facts. no priors.

the original thread poster used ’Classical’ in a general sense, the same way most audiophiles would interpret it.

The Oxford Dictionary defines ’classical music’ as “music written in a Western musical tradition, usually using an established form (for example a symphony). Classical music is generally considered to be serious and to have a lasting value.”

then there are periods of classical (the original poster did not specify this ’period’ use of the term.....which he would have needed to do for clarity were that his intent).

With centuries of history to consider, it can be easy to get in a bit of a twist when it comes to the various eras of Western classical music. Here’s a quick guide to the four key periods we usually learn about in music theory: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century and beyond.

@mikelavigne I guess what you are saying is that you are fine for audiophiles to be general, when in fact I think its imperative to be accurate and precise in matters of import.

I do not agree with the Oxford dictionary definition in this matter, but I do appreciate that you know where I am coming from.

Should the question have been in a general sense, then many movie scores could be considered classical music.  And perhaps cartoons like Looney Tunes (yes, listen, I am sometimes fascinated at the detail).