# The Greatest Classical Pianists of the 20th Century **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2018, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865 "2018-01-31T10:19:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/1 "2018-01-31T10:19:24Z")
So, another of my Classical Music polls but a bit different. This time, we’re not going to rank works but musicians. A couple of preliminary remarks as usual: - The list only includes pianists who were recorded extensively and in at least relatively acceptable sound. So, no **Liszt** , **Brahms** , **Scriabin** , **Rachmaninov** and sadly, no **Lipatti**. - I based it on various similar ones I found here and there. In spite of its length (40 entries), there are certainly omissions. Some of these are due to my personal tastes. Feel free to comment on them in the thread. However… - I decided on a cut-off date in order to make sure that we have enough material to form an opinion… All the pianists listed here had their starts in the 1960s or early 1970s at the latest. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/2 "2018-01-31T10:25:52Z")
By the way, you can vote for several pianists… ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/3 "2018-01-31T21:23:23Z")
I find y’all’s lack of faith in Vladimir Horowitz disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/4 "2018-01-31T23:19:28Z")
It’s a shame you couldn’t include Rachmaninov. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/5 "2018-02-01T02:08:21Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > It’s a shame you couldn’t include Rachmaninov. Uh, yeah. I’ve heard recordings; he was superb. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/6 "2018-02-01T04:43:20Z")
What, no Paderewski? ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/7 "2018-02-01T14:38:07Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > I find y’all’s lack of faith in Vladimir Horowitz disturbing. In **Sviatoslav Richter** , you mean ? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/8 "2018-02-01T15:48:30Z")
You think Billy Joel is not a classical pianist simply because he’s known for his other works? ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/9 "2018-02-01T16:20:23Z")
Not voting because I’m simply not qualified. I’ve come to enjoy classical music more and more in the last few years, but I’ll be damned if I can compare Horowitz and Rubinstein in a meaningful way. Horowitz is my “favorite”, but that is based on the breadth of his recorded work and the the fact that he almost always played with top-flight musicians as opposed to a real partialism to his technique or approach (though his predilection for the Romantics is another reason I like him so much). ETA: I do consider this a very informative poll, and I thank everyone who participates. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/10 "2018-02-01T16:23:56Z")
> [@simster](#): > > You think Billy Joel is not a classical pianist simply because he’s known for his other works? [He himself](http://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-joel-fantasies-delusions/) even admits he doesn’t have the chops to pull it off. > [@](#): > > “My left hand is not really good,” Joel admitted to NPR. “I didn’t study to be a concert pianist. I got to a certain point in my piano lessons [when] I realized I wasn’t going to be Vladimir Horowitz. I didn’t even want to be one of those guys. I wanted to compose, and it’s not unusual for a composer to not perform his own work.” ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/11 "2018-02-01T18:12:50Z")
I did not vote for Horowitz. He founded the Russian school of “Fast, loud, and don’t care after that”. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/12 "2018-02-01T21:40:14Z")
“And he plays piano good, the way a real piano player should, Horowitz! Hear, hear.” --Allan Sherman ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/13 "2018-02-02T11:46:24Z")
I picked Schnabel and Brendel, two generations of pianists who bridged the classical-romantic transition (late Beethoven; Schubert) so beautifully. Surprise to see Gould isn’t more popular. Fascinating guy, and his Ontario “coldness” is perfect for Bach’s “mathematical” works. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/14 "2018-02-02T11:50:18Z")
Also, nice to see quite a few women among the choices (though not winning many votes, so far). I’m ashamed to admit I’m only familiar with Argerich and Hess. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/15 "2018-02-02T12:00:34Z")
I’d say Oscar Peterson, but I am not allowed. And Pete Johnson, the boogie woogie master! So i voted Horowitz. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/16 "2018-02-02T14:48:26Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Surprise to see Gould isn’t more popular. Fascinating guy, and his Ontario “coldness” is perfect for Bach’s “mathematical” works. Mmm, I can’t stand his “sewing machine” approach to **Bach** ’s _Well-Tempered Clavier_. A real turn-off as far I’m concerned. > [@JKellyMap](#): > > Also, nice to see quite a few women among the choices (though not winning many votes, so far). I’m ashamed to admit I’m only familiar with Argerich and Hess. Yeah, when I first started listing names for the thread, I realized that **Argerich** was the only woman on it. Then, I thought of **Pires** and the others came from polls I found online, but in retrospect, they all have their place here and I should have been able to think of them by myself. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/17 "2018-02-02T15:48:02Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > [[Billy Joel] himself](http://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-joel-fantasies-delusions/) even admits he doesn’t have the chops to pull it off. Hard to imagine, say, Rick Wakeman, Art Tatum, or Elton John embarrassing themselves while performing classical piano works. But since classical piano wasn’t their professional focus, there might be slight, but discernible, flaws in the way Wakeman/Tatum/John would play classical vs. the names in the poll. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/18 "2018-02-02T15:59:28Z")
Oh God, I don’t know. Too many choices, and not every pianist is equally adept in all styles. I’ve heard some pianists who could play the bejeezus out of Rachmaninov absolutely murder some Bach fugues. Speaking of fugues, I rather like Keith Jarrett’s version of [Shostakovich’s 24 Preludes and Fugues](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shostakovich-24-Preludes-Fugues-Op/dp/B000006MTX). IMO Jarrett’s jazz experience enhances his interpretation of the Shostakovich. But, conversely, I’m not sure he’d be up to Rach 2. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/19 "2018-02-02T16:13:16Z")
And of course you’ve left off the performer of the definitive version of the Grieg piano concerto: [Eric Morecambe](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x31b29r). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865/20 "2018-02-02T18:17:10Z")
And where’s Evgeny Kissin (for the “play everything fast” crowd? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-classical-pianists-of-the-20th-century/807865.md?page=2)