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Favorite Pianists

I've recently become obsessed with great piano music. Not necessarily classical, just great. Like the thread I started regarding acoustic guitar, this follows the same lines. Who is your favorite? It doesn't have to be based on the ability to play fast or on the technical ability side of it. It just needs to be moving. Needs to be able to pull you in and tell a story of your past. I guess the best term to describe this is simply beautiful music.

As of right now, Ludovico Einaudi is my absolute favorite. I've listened to quite a bit of this genre lately and George Winston, Peter Kater and Kevin Kern all get high marks from me. But none of them move me like Ludovico Einaudi.

If you have an absolute favorite, just one that hits you like no other, post it. If you have several, list them.

Thanks!
tiggerfc
newbee
4,768 posts
 
Next to last generation should include Ivan Moravec. An outstanding if under recorded and publicized player of classical music. His Chopin is some of the finest available.

Hard to really recommend the last generation due to a lack of breadth of their programs without mentioning the music in which they have shown great potential, for example Chiu in Prokofiev, Lewis in Beethoven, Bavouzet in Debussy (and Ravel), Lortie in Ravel (and who is building a credible discograph as well). The list seems to go on but I will not. :-)
yu11375
137 posts
 
Hi Newbee,

It is nice that you join the forum.

As I am impotent in deciphering Chopin’s notes so I can’t comment on Ivan Moravec. The only Chopin recording I have is Adam Harasiewicz’s performance. Sadly this winner of the 1955 International Chopin Piano Competition is now long forgotten and overshadowed by the 2nd place winner (Vladimir Ashkenazy). Even the 3rd place winner (Fou Ts’ong) has his followers in Asia nowadays.

Speaking of Chopin, do we have any update on Pollini? Would this multi-talented pianist ever finish the recording of Bach’s well-tempered clavier book II or any other new recording(s)?

Happ Listening.

Otto
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
Martha Argerich - especially her Prokofiev and Rachmaninov recordings
Lyle Mays - solo and with Pat Metheny group
Nicky Hopkins - with so many, too many to count, Stones, Who...
Rabbit - on Pete Townshend's solo albums
Elton John
Stephen Kovacevich - on the 5 Beethoven piano concertos
Serge Rachmaninov
Chris Stainton - on Tommy and Quadrophenia
Roy Bittan
jamnesta
155 posts
 
Hank Jones, wonderfully fluid & lyrical pianist from the great Pontiac Michigan musical family, including Thad & Elvin...all gone sadly.
ziggy333a
46 posts
 
Surprised nobody mentioned Mike Garson. ( David Bowie) Garson is my personal favorite and runner up is Keith Emerson.
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