The Art of Piano
A composer, conductor, and pianist with "arms of steel and a heart of gold" who fled from his country in 1917. (lived 1873-1943)
Who was Sergei Rachmaninoff?
Described as the "king of piano technique," "shrewd," and a "smart showman who knew how to coax his public," this pianist had to be pushed onto the stage at his 1965 return to Carnegie Hall concert. (lived 1903-1989)
Who was Vladimir Horowitz?
First person in history to graduate in 3 different musical fields from the Peabody Conservatory
Who is Awadagin Pratt?
This pianist has collaborated extensively with Leonidas Kavakos and Yo-Yo Ma
Who is Emanuel Ax?
Became the prime minister of Poland and was briefly a Hollywood movie star. Saint Saens said he was a "genius." (lived 1860-1941)
Who was Ignacy Jan Paderewski?
During the London Blitz, this pianist created a lunchtime concert series in which she was a frequent performer. In the documentary she played the Appassionata Sonata. (1890-1965)
Who was Myra Hess?
Named one of "Twenty Living Polymaths" by the Economist
Who is Sir Stephen Hough?
Had hand troubles because he cut his finger and it got infected
Who is Murray Perahia?
"A pianist's pianist" who had "no battle with the piano" and was born in Poland (lived 1876-1957)
Who was Josef Hofmann?
This Hungarian pianist, who played Liszt's "Grand Galop Chromatique" in the documentary, worked as a jazz pianist in a Budapest bar. (lived 1921-1994)
Who was Gyorgy Cziffra?
This pianist was born in Argentina and studied in Europe with Friedrich Gulda
Who is Martha Argerich?
This pianist was born in Argentina and studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris
Who is Daniel Barenboim?
Born in Odessa, moved to London. His favorite Rachmaninoff prelude, in B minor, was also Rachmaninoff's favorite, and was about "the return." Rachmaninoff said this pianist played his own works better than he did. (lived 1890-1963)
Who was Benno Moiseiwitsch?
This pianist described himself as "the luckiest man alive" and liked to pick one person from the audience he felt listened the best and play his concert directed at that person. (lived 1887-1982)
Who was Artur Rubinstein?
This pianist's elimination from the third round of the Chopin Competition provoked Martha Argerich to quit the jury
Who is Ivo Pogorelich?
This pianist said: “Your relationship with your music is the most important thing that you have, and it is, in the sense of private and sacred, something that you need to protect. The dross of everyday life is very, very powerful and very strong. So you need to protect your special relationship with your music.”
Who is Andre Watts?
A French pianist with a long white beard who appeared very briefly in the documentary. He was one of the first pianists to ever make a recording. (lived 1839-1934)
Who was Francis Plante?
A French pianist who gave a masterclass on Schumann's Kinderszenen in The Art of Piano documentary (lived 1877-1962)
Who was Alfred Cortot?
This pianist began as a singer and conductor before taking piano seriously at age 15.
Who is Arcadi Volodos?
This pianist created the Russian National Orchestra in 1990
Who is Mikhail Pletnev?