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