Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has the honor of being the first great pianist. In the pianistic succession Mozart begat Beethoven, who begat everybody else, including legends such as Clara Schumann, Franz Liszt, and Anton Rubinstein. By the turn of the 20th century the gramophone gifted us with a priceless cultural legacy. The thrilling pianism of Ferruccio Busoni, Josef Hoffman, Leopold Godowsky, Alfred Cortot, Artur Schnabel, and Sergei Rachmaninoff gave way to the giants Arthur Rubinstein and Vladimir Horowitz. Mid-century American male superstars such as Gary Graffman, Leon Fleischer, and Julius Katchen were joined by Myra Hess, Clara Haskil, Gina Bachauer, Helène Grimaud, Martha Argerich, Alicia de Larrocha—and more great female pianists. We’ll linger in today’s pianistic effulgence, from relative oldsters such as Murray Perahia and András Schiff to today’s superstars Lang Lang, Yuja Wang, Paul Lewis, and Igor Levit. Wonderful piano music
played by wonderful pianists awaits!