Amazing Solo Piano Recordings


I'm looking to get your oppinions on the best solo piano recordings available. Style or genre is not important as long as the recording is pristine, clear, open and in your oppinion AMAZING! Please if you can, state artist, label, etc., so we audiogoner's can buy 'em!
bwhite

Showing 5 responses by buxter66

Artur Schnabel Late Beethoven sonatas , EMI
Walter Gieseking Schumann Kinderscenen, and Davidsbundlertanze
Artur Schnabel Schubert Sonatas
Oscar Levant Gershwin Preludes
Radu Lupu Schubert Impromptus
Walter Gieseking Mendelssohn Songs Without Words
Hello Cpdunn,

for DG it isn't bad at all. very balanced and enjoyable. yes... tape hiss is slightly audible, but the performances and recordings in general are very listenable. I can't say that I know of a more enjoyable schumann set- of course there are the Gieseking records (his davidsbundlertanze and kinderscenen in particular are arguably more lucid and have more sweep) and then there is the Cortot footage from the "great pianists" dvd playing "the Prophet" from kinderscenen which is probably for me the most transcendental, ultimate piano art example IMHO, in a masterclass of all places.
You won't regret getting the Kempff set.
Kissin playing Liszt Transcendental Etudes. He really captures the magic, fire and poetry of this fantastical composer. And I'm not a Kissin fan either. Incredible virtuosity in the truest sense of the word.
In general, I like Pletnev, he's a great pianist, and an excellent all around musician, a huge sound, a solid and individual approach to things, but I'm not totally sold. There's an underlying MAC truck thing going on that I find taints everything he does a little. But... that is why he is having a thriving and successful career in this current "marketplace/environment".
And I haven't heard his Liszt. I'll look for it.