Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37233 in Books
• Published on: 1987-06-15
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 528 pages

Customer Reviews

Pianists Extraordinary
This book in my opinion is probably one of the best dealing with, not only the players/composers covered, but also the times in which they lived and worked, albeit somewhat briefly. It is not expensive considering the amount of research carried out by the author. For those who wish to investigate individual pianists further, then this is a first class start. It is good to still be able to obtain it. The paperback version I purchased would be ideal for students in view of its low cost.

Fine Material, But More Extensive New Information Needed!
As an accomplished pianist, teacher, adjudicator and author I am somewhat disappointed in this book!. I was so looking forward to Schonberg offering new and informative material on the numerous super-virtuosos that have earned their position to perform in the greatest concert halls around the world. The book only uses valuable pages on the same material and pianists that are in the previous books. I can not believe that Schonberg only feels that Kissin, for example, a young, serious pianist with a track record that boggles the mind, an established virtuoso with a huge ongoing career ahead deserves only FOUR!!!!!!!!!!! lines of honorable mention. And for the others like Kissin very little information of value is provided. We indeed want to know about the legendary composers and pianists who made major contributions to the 18th, 19th and 20th century, but why do we not see and read multiple pages about those pianists who are still continuing to amaze us and attain new magnificent accomplishments, as well as those artists who are new but already gaining significant pianistic stature?
There is still considerable pianistic insight within these pages but its overall content is in need of considerable recent investigation of present day artists.
Having said this, the book does offer an informative overview for students and those wishing to read about how the greatest pianists made their way to attaining a concert career; siting teachers and pianists they studied with, schools of study, performance traditions during a particular era, heralded concerts never to be forgotten and even occasions of humor!
It is easy to wish for even more from this book, but I must admit that Harold Schonberg, who we recently lost, was a great man in his own right and gave the world of the performing arts a legacy to be remembered and cherished by all! His words are indeed filled with wisdom forethought and intellectual stimulation.

Author: Raymond Vacchino M.Mus.(MT) A.Mus. L.R.S.M. Licentiate(honorary)

Really good introduction to the great pianists
This book basically traces pianists of note, starting from CPE Bach and continuing through to Horowitz and Rubinstein (late 80s). It is very informative and interesting, not at all dry.

It is not a biographical work. Only small excerpts of the lives of the pianists are presented and most of the book is dedicated to outlining the style of playing of each. Although, the usual amusing and amazing musical anicdotes are recounted to make for a good read. An important feature is that the information is all set into the context of the day and Schonberg goes to some length to lay out the broad features of each musical era and how this era affected the playing of the particular pianists, and how the pianist may have shaped the era.

It gives only a brief outline of most pianists, with a chapter devoted to the giants such as Mozart, Liszt and Hofmann. Some players, such as Bartok, are not given the attention they deserve I think, but this is not often. It is a informal and inspiring overview of the greatest pianists, and is well worth a read.