Can an Englishman love the playing of an italian pianist?

Like the piano or not, does it make any difference what nationality the player of the piano is?

Personally I do not like the piano in the main, though there is a good deal of grand music played on it. I dislike the compromised tuning of it where all the semi-tones of the scale are the proportionally and mathematically similar, as this does not fit with just intonation.

Thus for me a group of string players or a good choir will always have the potential to please me more.

Horses for course, and I am sure many English people like piano music, played by Italians, Japanese, Danes, or indeed any nationality of pianist.

I think it is reasonable to say that there is no obvious tendency to national styles of playing any more.

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
I dislike the compromised tuning of it where all the semi-tones of the scale are the same, as this does not fit with just intonation.

ATB from George

Perhaps because I don't understand what that means I rather like the piano - but never thought about the player's nationality much. That said, I don't have any disks by Italian players either.

Ian ( who's not an Englishman)

i actually thought this thread would get a laugh!

and i do think Italian pianists have a touch that is quite distinctive and instantly recognizable.

GFFJ, the list of music you do not like grows longer!

I expect an Englishwoman would like an Italian pianist!

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:
and i do think Italian pianists have a touch that is quite distinctive and instantly recognizable.

*laugh!!!*

quote:

Originally posted by naim_nymph:
I expect an Englishwoman would like an Italian pianist!

finally i get my laugh :-) thank you ...

quote:

Originally posted by Cheese:

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:
and i do think Italian pianists have a touch that is quite distinctive and instantly recognizable.

*laugh!!!*

and again :-)

I love the piano playing of Enrico Pieranunzi

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:
I love the piano playing of Enrico Pieranunzi

live in paris ---> i fall in love too easily, and but not for me.

very nice, and he has the same velvety beautiful touch as classical Italian pianist :-)

I love Arturo B Michaelangeli, and of course, Maurizio Pollini! Not that I'm an englishman, but close enough...From all the British movies I've seen, I thought the British loved Italian things...so I assume ,with Joan Plowwright's voice in my head ,that they would...

quote:

Originally posted by soundsreal:
I love Arturo B Michaelangeli, and of course, Maurizio Pollini!

these two are my favorites.

you have excellent taste :-)

I expect if you did a blindfold test ( the method by which all reviews should be conducted), not one person would be able to consistently identify the country of origin of any good pianist or any other classical instrumental musician. Many jazz musicians, including pianists, on the other hand, are almost instantly recognizable if one is knowledgeable about the music.

quote:

Originally posted by Oldnslow:
I expect if you did a blindfold test ( the method by which all reviews should be conducted), not one person would be able to consistently identify the country of origin of any good pianist or any other classical instrumental musician. Many jazz musicians, including pianists, on the other hand, are almost instantly recognizable if one is knowledgeable about the music.

i would like to take that test :-)

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
Is Claudio Arrau Italian?

he is from argentia, and i believe he is spanish heritage. he is the first one i heard do all the beethoven piano sonatas. i still have those on Plillips LPs. They are wonderful.

is he a favorite?

quote:

Originally posted by munch:

I have just found my Phillips LPs.
I have just pulled all my classical records out of my rack to see if i have any Italian pianists.
Will report back if i find one.
Did find my DECCA Ashkenazy plays Chopin LP though .
Its on now.


Now that is odd ! I just came across that very exact same album about an half an hour ago. I have spent the entire day packing up my vinyl collection ( not fun ) for an overseas move, and I am in the classical section now. Also came across a Decca Ashkenazy box. You wouldn't by any chance be wearing jeans and drinking Coca-Cola with a big roll of boxing tape in your hand right now Stu ? That would be Coen brothers creepy !

Claudio Arrau is definitely not Italian...I have rarely liked him. He has ruined more pieces than I care to remember.

I'm inclined to think I could pass the test. You can almost always pinpoint a female player.
I can usually tell the Americans.
It's those damn Australians you have to watch out for, they're very chameleon-like; they sometimes sound English, sometimes American.
Anyone south of the border I can usually tell as well, hence my definite no to Arrau...and it's generally easy to tell a Russian or French. The earlier Asians had absolutely no soul, and easily stood out, now they have more panache but are usually more strident, like lang lang, he's a good show, nothing more. Well, I think I just laid my tastes out on the line....

quote:

Originally posted by soundsreal:
Claudio Arrau is definitely not Italian...I have rarely liked him. He has ruined more pieces than I care to remember.


Anyone south of the border I can usually tell as well, hence my definite no to Arrau......

"His ancestor Lorenzo de Arrau was sent to Chile by King Carlos III of Spain. Through his great-grandmother, María del Carmen Daroch del Solar, Arrau was a descendant of the Campbells of Glenorchy, a Scottish noble family"

Is the border you refer to the south of Iceland or has the Iberian peninsula moved far south ? just having fun

You're asking a German?

No, my border in question would be the equator and in fairness to Mr. A my growing dislike came when my local classical station played him more often than I cared for; someone at the station obviously liked him. Someone should have donated some Ivan Morevec.

Oh haha ! OK, I did not know he was German ,usually over here when you hear the expression " south of the border " it means below Texas so I assumed he was American.

Northern most point of Spain is 43.47 degrees North
Germany's southern-most point is 47 degrees North

Wow, fantastic ears soundsreal ! That is close !

Thanks, I do what I can!

[/QUOTE
Where are you moving to?
I hope its some where warm.
Stu[/QUOTE]

I am actually moving to Berlin, which ironically is in Germany !........ I am originally from the northern tip of Spain (freezing in the winter actually).....but I am in southern Canada at the moment . I am very frightened of shipping all of this vinyl, I think I am doing it right ( the packing) but just hope the carrier does not sink or crash.... that would be devastating. Gear can be replaced but a lifetime collection....I do not want to think about it.

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:
I love the piano playing of Enrico Pieranunzi

Yes, and Stefano Bollani, too.

Best,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by soundsreal:

You can almost always pinpoint a female player.

How so?

Fred

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:
I love the piano playing of Enrico Pieranunzi

Yes, and Stefano Bollani, too.

Best,
Fred

Stefano sure has my vote of confidence.