From Mozart's fabulous legato that "flowed like oil" to Beethoven's oceanlike surge, from Clara Schumann's touch "sharp as a pencil sketch" to Rubinstein's volcanic and sensual playing, The Great Pianists brings to life the brilliant, stylish, and sometimes eccentric personalities, methods, and technical peculiarities of history's greatest pianists. Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and author Harold C. Schonberg presents vivid accounts of the artists' performances, styles, and even their personal lives and quirky ...
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From Mozart's fabulous legato that "flowed like oil" to Beethoven's oceanlike surge, from Clara Schumann's touch "sharp as a pencil sketch" to Rubinstein's volcanic and sensual playing, The Great Pianists brings to life the brilliant, stylish, and sometimes eccentric personalities, methods, and technical peculiarities of history's greatest pianists. Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and author Harold C. Schonberg presents vivid accounts of the artists' performances, styles, and even their personal lives and quirky characteristics-- such as Mozart's intense competition with Clementi, Lizst's magnetic effect on women (when he played, ladies flung their jewels on stage), and Gottschalk's persistent nailbiting, which left the keys covered with blood. Including profiles of Horowitz and Van Cliburn, among others, and chapters detailing the playing and careers of such modern pianists as de Larrocha, Ashkenazy, Gilels, Gould, Brendel, Bolet, Gutierrez, and Watts, The Great Pianists is a comprehensive and fascinating look at legendary performers past and present.
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Add this copy of Great Pianists to cart. $15.64, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 1987 by Simon & Schuster.
I accidentally found this book, wasn't even looking for it, but I'm so glad I did. Really fascinating and well researched book on the early piano scene. Like boots on the ground.
Bit of modern luck, the author kept referring to pieces of music that have been "lost" because the reader will never hear them again performed. Enter Spotify - a dream for classical music lovers. Every obscure piece that he described was on there and I was able to just call it up and listen as he did his description.
I've already passed this book on to my friend for reading. Really great.
(Disclaimer: I just got back into taking piano as an adult, and suddenly discovered that Bach isn't a stuffy old guy, but someone who wrote amazing music)
claudebussy
Jan 31, 2008
Best book for classical pianists
A superb work of art on the history of piano players for the past 300 years. Thoughtful and personal delving into the lives of all the great pianists. My third reading of this work and relishing more and more appreciating these masters.
