hey, im new to this all just wondering what you people out there think..who are ur favourite pianists and why...i know that this is a heaps general sort of question but hey, im open to your opinions thanks ...

um id have to say one of my favourite is martha argerich..does anyone know her?? hmmm, i LOVE her recording of jeux d'eau and all the chopin stuff..her technique is soo good..when i was learning jeux d'eau i listened to her a lot

"does anyone know her??"

Man, what a question!

I almost got to see her play the Chopin E minor concerto with Ashkenazy conducting the Philharmonia, but — you guessed it — she cancelled, and Ashkenazy played and conducted a Mozart concerto instead, which was excellent but not Argerich. =(

alexei sultanov

The man has so much power, Technicly perfect and his dinamics are great. also are his interpetations of pieces but that's personal

http://recitals.alexeisultanov.ru al his recordings for free

Yes, what a question . I guess she is among the most famous living pianists in the world...and Gan, I really understand your disappointment when she canceled (Ashkenazy plays really well though). Hope she does not develop he concert cancelations in the same way as Michelangeli did.

I do enjoy Argerich and her Chopin preludes (even though she hits a left hand bass note wrong in the beginning of the 16:th prelude...I believe she misread the score actually!) and Chopin concertos are the ones I rank on the top of Chopin interpretations.

Actually, that time she cancelled for health reasons (which isn't surprising given her alleged chain-smoking-and-drinking habits). But I have heard that she has a track record of cancelling concerts at short notice. (That's only what I've heard . . . I take no responsibility for the accuracy of that statement.)

I have heard this as well. It might be a problem when you reach a certain level of fame and popularity and EVERY CONCERT NIGHT need to keep up with that rumour and really prove that you are the master of the instrument. She is not alone, several other pianists frequently cancel as well. With Michelangeli, it was crazy. He canceled a lot more than played. But he was a perfectionist and never took the chance and played if he was not 100% he would not play a single note wrong and he never did!

[quote="robert"]"Yes, what a question . I guess she is among the most famous living pianists in the world"

oops i knew that haha WELL she is extremely good

Is she now ! Thanks for enlightening us Any more good pianists we need to know about ?

C'mon, give the person a break.

This was a break

oh. okay then...just pointing out the obvious...im sure not ALL people like argerich..just cos im ignorant

I do not particularly like Argerich's inflammatory playing, but I do acknowledge she is one of the most extraordinary (technically and temperamentally) pianists of all times.

what do you mean inflammatory?? um im not really sure what that word means...trusty ol dictionary.com: tending to arouse anger, hostility, passion...

if thats what you mean, i dont really agree...admittedly, ive never seen her play live but the cd that i have with chopin/brahms/liszt/ravel wasnt like that

Perhaps inflammatory isn't the most appropriate word then. I meant her feverish energy and imagination, her uncontrollled passion and tendency to explode in all directions. She is a loose cannon. In many cases that does not serve the music at all. But this is controversial, I better get out of here quickly now

Hmzz maybe they call that interpetation. I know that some interpetation is on de sheet music written but If it is interpetation you can't say that it is wrong!

I don't like her playing eather but her technic is wonderfull