Greatest Solo Piano Works

Brian · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 1:52 pm **Posts:** 2339

You're welcome, gray. For Chopin, a good CD is Murray Perahia's performances of Ballades 1-4; Etudes Op. 10/3-4; Mazurkas Op. 7/4, 17/4 & 33/2; Nocturne Op 15/1; and Waltzes Op. 18 & 42. For Beethoven, Solomon's performances of the last 6 piano sonatas (27-32) and performances by Kempff, Brendel and Rubenstein of piano sonatas 8, 14 & 23 are recommended. (Kempff's CD also includes #21, and the other 2 also include #26.) The last 6 sonatas are more intense, but the others may be more accessible for those new to Beethoven's piano sonatas.

The Man · **Posted:** Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:54 pm

I'd say that Horowitz is my favorite interpreter of Chopin. Perahia is excellent as well

pauldrach · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2011 5:27 am

Brian wrote:

Paul, generally it takes a pretty long while for classical works to be established as claasic or important pieces, and that might be the issue with those two works. I could find a mention of "Für Alina" in any of the sources I use, and only one mention of "Spiegel im Spiegel". According to that source, the latter is a cello sonata. From what I gather, it seems that Part is more noted for orchestral and choral music than for solo piano music.

Yeah, he probably is. Anyway thanks for the answer. Had to check what you said about "Spiegel im Spiegel". Apparently it was originally written for piano and violin. I didn't know that at all, only knew it as a solo piano piece. But Pärt often changed the instrumentation of his works, so it doesn't really surprise me.

Gray · **Joined:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 4:49 pm **Posts:** 3786

Brian wrote:

You're welcome, gray. For Chopin, a good CD is Murray Perahia's performances of Ballades 1-4; Etudes Op. 10/3-4; Mazurkas Op. 7/4, 17/4 & 33/2; Nocturne Op 15/1; and Waltzes Op. 18 & 42. For Beethoven, Solomon's performances of the last 6 piano sonatas (27-32) and performances by Kempff, Brendel and Rubenstein of piano sonatas 8, 14 & 23 are recommended. (Kempff's CD also includes #21, and the other 2 also include #26.) The last 6 sonatas are more intense, but the others may be more accessible for those new to Beethoven's piano sonatas.

I appreciate it. I'll probably post again after I get some.

Don-Alexei · **Posted:** Wed Aug 10, 2011 6:43 am

Pagderic · **Joined:** Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:40 am **Posts:** 29

Quote:

61. Prelude in C sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 2 - Sergei Rachmaninoff

Should be in top 20, listen to Gilels play.

Quote:

14. Ballade No. 1 in G minor - Frideric Chopin

This is the greatest piano piece ever written.

Here's one of my favourite interpretations, although it's cutted for a movie. Listen to presto con fuoco part from 2:55.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQk3Zh71dGA

The Man · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:27 pm

Greatest? Not quite. My personal favorite? Quite possibly.

Greatest Solo Piano Works

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