Awed as one must be by Don Satz's logged hours of dogged listening, his
judgements are always treasured, as for example...
>... the absolute best pianists are Richter, Pollini, Solomon,
>Moiseiwitsch, Sofronitsky, Brendel, Cortot, Gieseking, Gould, and Tureck.
>That's about it for my *objective* conclusions.
I've never had the pleasure of hearing Sofronsky or Solomon live, but
I've experience all the others, plus other others. The most reliable
first-rater to my taste is Perahia. He never offers surprises, he's
solid, and he _shows up_. Argerich is fine when she shows, but that's
become almost exceptional. Benedetti was another one of that category.
It's been a long time since I heard Tureck, but when I did I was probably
more taken with her than even Don. Brendel doing Schubert, or really any
of the German/Austrian greats, is himself great.: when you hear him play,
you hear a good musical mind thinking (for itself). A sure-fire live
entertainer?
Schiff, Schiff, Schiff....
Denis Fodor
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