Every classical music lover can name their favorite. Here’s our top 10.
1. Martha Argerich
I love very much to play the piano. But I don’t like to be a pianist.
2. Grigory Sokolov
There is so much music that has been written for the piano, we pianists can only play a very small part of it. Chamber music is of course wonderful, but you need to find a partner with whom you really have something in common. You need so much time to find the right partner! Then you need to practice in order to find out whether you are on the same wave length. When two musicians get together and are ready to perform after two rehearsals, you are speaking of a compromise, rather than a common interpretation. Of course, there have been exemples of wonderful musicians who spent most of their lives playing together. Since there are so many beautiful things written for piano solo, I prefer to play myself instead of searching for the right partner!
3. Alfred Brendel
The word "listen" contains the same letters as the word "silent".
4. Marc-André Hamelin
You’d be surprised how little time I spend at the piano. I wouldn’t recommend that to anybody! But what is underestimated, and you as a performing musician certainly understand this, is that not all practice is done at the keyboard. In fact, some of my most valuable work is done away from it. Because when I take a walk, and I’m thinking about the repertoire, I’m working. You can get all kinds of revelations: details of texture, the counterpoint, the balance of form, the pace, the tempo. The shaping of the phrases. When you’re away from the instrument, you finally hear it like you want it. And then if you get that goal firmly in mind, you get back to the piano and try to apply the knowledge that’s gleaned from being away from the piano, and see how close you can get.
5. Mikhail Pletnev
I enjoy music in every form; sometimes as listener, sometimes as a composer, sometimes conductor, performer, anything. And how do I divide? Well, it’s one thing. I don’t divide. When I take baton or I sit as the pianist, it’s one thing.
6. Evgeny Kissin
My tastes have always been very broad, for as long as I remember, and I have always been trying to expand my repertoire in all possible directions. On the other hand, I never bring a piece to the public unless I feel that I am able to play it well.
7. Arcadi Volodos
When we hear two young pianists of the same level, of the same talent, on the same instrument, in one the music lives, in the other, no. Why? It is inexplicable. It is as if the substance of each pianist flowed through the piano. And what’s interesting is that we can’t learn that.
8. Ivo Pogorelich
I am turned to beauty, to invention, to creation - I am inspired by it, that is the starting point. Then follow work, analysis, practice, experience.
9. Mitsuko Uchida
When I play a note of Schubert I don’t want anybody walking around and talking.
10. Murray Perahia
There is something very special for me about revisiting music by composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Schumann, Chopin and Brahms. Their inexhaustible art remains a constant source of inspiration to me.
