Let's talk music, no genre boundaries

@stuartk 

Argerich has a numerous solo piano albums. She is known for Chopin and Schumann, among others. Schumann is a hard composer to cozy up to. He died in a mental institution at 35 of manic depression, I think. His long piano works will move from absolutely beautiful melodies to dark, cacophonous passages. His wife, Clara, was a composer in her own right and an extremely popular concert pianist. She introduced a number of his works. You might look for Argerich playing "kinderszenen." It is about the phases of childhood, if I remember correctly. The early passages are lovely, then he descends into a kind of madness, but pulls out of it. It must be so hard for a pianist to express his soul  as @mahgister says.

@audio-b-dog 

Thanks. 

I’ll check out the Chopin. I already have a recording of Nocturnes by a S. American pianist whose name I don’t recall... Maria Pires, I think. 

Not sure I want to hear the sonic equivalent of a child 
"descending into madness"               ;o) 

@stuartk 

I have Maria Pires playing Mozart’s sonatas. She is pristine in her delivery. I have others playing Mozart piano sonatas who bring out emotional depth that Pires avoids, I think. Her notes sparkle. For her, I think, it’s all about the touch and the timing. She leans more toward a Classical interpretation, where others lean toward the Romantic.

Argerich is bold and powerful, at least that’s the way I hear her. I know you don’t play orchestral music (although I think you can. I used to listen to it on a $100 Sears suitcase stereo that probably didn’t go below 80 Hz.) If you were to try a piano concerto, she does a mean Prokofieff’s 3rd piano concerto. It has the most amazing build I’ve ever heard. He mastered the art of the build, rising up to a crescendo then descending. Rising up again and descending. Until finally the crescendo comes and it is extremely satisfying.

@audio-b-dog 

I'm not a classical aficionado and therefore, lack your refined sensitivity and discernment when it comes to comparing different versions of a particular piece. I will say that, personally, I find the Pires recording of the Nocturnes quite emotionally affecting. I bought it after listening to perhaps a half dozen pianists' interpretations of the Nocturnes on Spotify. However, this was some time ago and I do not recall the names of the other pianists.  

@stuartk 

I'm sure she could be emotionally affecting on Chopin. On Mozart, however, I think, although I've never heard it said, that modern musicians are beginning to play him more emotionally.  I have Fazil Say playing the sonatas and it's very different than Pires. But you don't have to be an aficianado to have your own taste. And your taste might change over the years. I listened to Mitsuko Uchida play Mozart's sonatas the other day and she did a lot of "interpretation." I liked it a lot. I like Pires, too. She makes Mozart sparkle. It's fun to listen to a few different artists and compare them. Mitsuko Uchida has specialized in Mozart, but that doesn't mean she's the last word, by any means. I really like some of Geza Anda's interpretations, and I think he plays Mozart more like Pires. What I consider to be a more "classical" style. I kind of like all of their interpretations. Like seeing Hamlet done by great actors.