Who are the stand out Pianists playing today?

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I don't mind people suggesting Keyboard works as well.

This is seriously good


Vagrant - Keith Emerson
Creole Dance- Alberto Ginastera, Keith Emerson
Solitudinous -Keith Emerson
Broken Bough - Keith Emerson
A Cajun Alley - Keith Emerson
Prelude to Candice [From Murderock] - Keith Emerson
A Blade of Grass - Keith Emerson
Outgoing Tide - Keith Emerson
Summertime - George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, Keith Emerson
Interlude - Keith Emerson
Roll'n Jelly - Keith Emerson
B&W Blues - Keith Emerson
For Kevin - Keith Emerson
The Dreamer [From Best Revenge] - Keith Emerson
Hammer It Out - Keith Emerson
Ballad for a Common Man - Keith Emerson
Barrelhouse Shakedown - Keith Emerson
Nilu's Dream - Keith Emerson
Soulscapes - Keith Emerson
Close to Home - Keith Emerson
Honky Tonk Train Blues - Meade "Lux" Lewis, Oscar Peterson, Keith Emerson
Nicola/Silver Shoes/I'll See You in My Dreams - Gus Kahn, Steve Race, Keith Emerson

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The music of composer/pianist Ludovico Einaudi has been described as minimalist, classical, ambient, contemporary and deeply touchingÖ the welcome sound of stillness in a hectic world.

Maurizio Pollini is the greatest pianist alive.

Whatever the previous poster (but one) may think, Keith Emerson doesn't come close!

Murray Perahia. I have a few of his CDs (Bach Goldbergs, Partitas etc, and Beethoven Piano Concertoes). He gets out of the way and lets the music speak for itself. Some people might find that too self-effacing and polite but I like this refreshingly modest approach from someone who is clearly extremely talented.

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
Maurizio Pollini is the greatest pianist alive.

Whatever the previous poster (but one) may think, Keith Emerson doesn't come close!

Agreed - his recording of Beethoven's late piano sonatas is a must have.

Paul Lewis - quickly up and coming and close to the top - for me far more enjoyable to listen to than other supposed greatest pianists. His series at this years proms was sublime.

Keith Jarrett - there is no other.

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Originally posted by graham55:
Maurizio Pollini is the greatest pianist alive.

Whatever the previous poster (but one) may think, Keith Emerson doesn't come close!

I like them both - Emo writes much of what he plays and he has always been a great entertainer/musician, but I'm sure there are many others.

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Originally posted by Lontano:
Paul Lewis - quickly up and coming and close to the top - for me far more enjoyable to listen to than other supposed greatest pianists. His series at this years proms was sublime.

Keith Jarrett - there is no other.

Should have mentioned Keith Jarrett in my OP, I have his Koln Concerts on vinyl and like it a lot so will be getting some more of his solo work.

Now with Paul Lewis I'm seeing mixed impressions from this very forum but as I like controversial figures I might have to take punt on his CD's, convince me otherwise.

Is Pollini still active or has he retired as the greats can easily be approached where as contemporary Pianists are harder to see without major investment in various untested works. Also if he is active what makes him "great".



Dean...

My faves:

Krystian Zimmerman

Leif Ove Andsnes

Martha Argerich

Joe Sample

Guys I'd like a bit of why? should I invest in these artists.



Dean...

quote:

Originally posted by Whizzkid:

Now with Paul Lewis I'm seeing mixed impressions from this very forum but as I like controversial figures I might have to take punt on his CD's.

Is Pollini still active or has he retired as the greats can easily be approached where as contemporary Pianists are harder to see without major investment in various untested works.



Dean...

Pollini is still active - I saw him last year and am going to see him in a few weeks doing the Late Beethoven sonatas - he is playing quite a few London concerts this year - however I enjoy Lewis more. In the external press, you will find nothing but praise for Lewis - he is very highly regarded.

Here is Pollini signing my CD

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:
- I saw him last year and am going to see him in a few weeks doing the Late Beethoven sonatas -

I just got this record set. Will be interesting to hear as I usually associate him with Chopin pieces.

Dean,

Try:

For Zimerman

For Andsnes

For Argerich

As for Joe Sample, gotta see him live.

Dozens of pianists and hundreds of recordings are all screaming for more attention than I can give them, but I'd like to single out Ivo Pogorelich. He hasn't recorded for 15 years, but is still active on the podium.

Of the up-and-coming generation, I've been impressed by David Fray.

EJ

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:
Paul Lewis - quickly up and coming and close to the top - for me far more enjoyable to listen to than other supposed greatest pianists. His series at this years proms was sublime.

Keith Jarrett - there is no other.

Second both choices.

I don't know much about piano music and would not know the difference between a Pollini and a perahia but I do like Parlic.

To get a million views on youtube for music by phillip Glass is extraordinary. I would be interested to know what people with more musical expertise think.

I can second Paul Lewis (his Beethoven Sonatas are the mos beautifull you will ever hear)

After hearing Zimerman live last year, I wouldn't put him on the same level as Lewis (anymore).

Also some late recordings by Pollini completely fail to impress me.

One thing IMHO to watch out for with modern pianists, is that showing off their virtuosity and speed and technical accomplishment has become their "main thing". The music suffers enormously, even to such an extent that it becomes a horror to have to listen to their performance and the end result has nothing to do with what the composer wrote.

A (not so) fine example of this last category of pianists I had to watch and listen to only last week. A recital by David Fray in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. My first regret was that I didn't leave in the break but sat out the whole recital. The music of Beethoven and Mozart completely ripped (or should I say raped) to pieces with no beauty left.
Unfortunately last year I had nearly the same experience (but not as extreme) with Krystian Zimerman.

So I wouldn't go for 'great names' only but listen for yourself, maybe helped by CD review magazines like BBC Music Magzine or Gramophone if they have a similar taste to your own.

But try the Paul Lewis Beethoven Sonatas, you can't fail with those IMO.

Edit:
Additions:

My absolute no brainer would be Sviatoslav Richter, no longer among us but I believe everything he did was absolute very good.

Also performers that do no wrong IMO:
- Mitsuko Uchida
- Murray Periah
- Maria Jiao Pires

Modern performers whose recent CD's I liked very much:
- Jean-Efflam Bavouzet: I like his Debussy Complete Works and his Ravel Concertos are outstanding (much better than the recent Boulez/Aimard)
- Pletnev: for russian work
- Alexeev: also for russian work
- Leive Ove Andsness: I like many of his performances, but some not so much

I better stop here

Best of luck

aleg

I would like to add one more if I may:

Jean Yves Thibaudet: very wide repertoire, many outstanding performances IMO.


I just read EJS's appraisal for David Fray , see how different the impressions and likes and dislikes can be .

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aleg

Blechacz is great for Chopin.

Angelia Hewett is great for Bach.

Pollini is great for Beethoven, Chopin, Stravinsky and Prokofiev.

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I can second Paul Lewis (his Beethoven Sonatas are the mos beautifull you will ever hear)

Aleg, you've sold the Paul Lewis sonatas to me. I've been holding off because of mixed reactions, but based on your description, I think I'd enjoy them. Some people criticise Angela Hewitt's Bach for being too prim and proper - and too beautiful. But I love what she does, especially the clarity of individual musical lines within each piece.

I second your Uchida recommendation. Her Mozart and Debussy are excellent and I have a set of Schubert piano works played by her that I'm looking forward to hearing.

For what it's worth, Paul Lewis leaves me cold.

I remember - you were one of the detractors I was referring to. Out of curiosity, how would you assess him against Angela Hewitt. Both seem to receive similar criticism from the people who dislike them (too tame, too nice), so it interests me that you like Hewitt but dislike Lewis.

Regards
Nigel

quote:

Originally posted by droodzilla:
I remember - you were one of the detractors I was referring to. Out of curiosity, how would you assess him against Angela Hewitt. Both seem to receive similar criticism from the people who dislike them (too tame, too nice), so it interests me that you like Hewitt but dislike Lewis.

Regards
Nigel

Angelia Hewitt has the most beautiful touch for Bach, her rhythm is rock solid and finely nuanced, and her execution of ornaments illuminates the music.

Paul Lewis misses the drama of the late Beethoven sonatas for my ears. His voicing of the lines is unremarkable. Pollini hits the mark here on both counts.

As for comparing the two, it is beyond me. I have heard one do Bach and the other Beethoven - that's apples and oranges.

Nigel,

Paul Lewis seems intent on never losing control, which separates him from Pollini, Kovacevich, Gulda and others, but to call him tame or too civilised would do him injustice IMO. I like his sonata cycle precisely for the superlative piano playing. But they don't replace the otherwise less polished readings by Brendel (his last cycle), Kovacevich and Barenboim (his early cycle - never heard his DG remakes). Annie Fischer gets high marks in several circles, and I found her complete set waiting for me in the office today.

EJ

quote:

Originally posted by EJS:
Nigel,

Paul Lewis seems intent on never losing control, which separates him from Pollini, Kovacevich, Gulda and others, but to call him tame or too civilised would do him injustice IMO. I like his sonata cycle precisely for the superlative piano playing. But they don't replace the otherwise less polished readings by Brendel (his last cycle), Kovacevich and Barenboim (his early cycle - never heard his DG remakes). Annie Fischer gets high marks in several circles, and I found her complete set waiting for me in the office today.

EJ

I second your remark about Paul Lewis.
He has a beautifull voicing and plays the music exactly as is written, all melodic lines are there to be followed with right dynamics and relative balance.
Paul Lewis plays what Beethoven has written, many others play what they want to make of it.

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aleg