Identify the pianist... ... ... kind of

[MishaK]

I agree, but his hands are similar in that they have short fingers rather than the long tapering ones associated with great pianists.  As I noted, and you also noted, his position is more open.  The hand in this picture is held in a very closed position, and the only person I've ever seen play with a closed hand like that is Goode.  That doesn't make it Goode; there must be many other pianists who use such a position, but I haven't seen them play.

I wasn't contradicting you, just adding more info. It's hard to tell how long the third pianists fingers are, given how curled they are, but it seems they are longer than Barenboim's even so.

[Bunny]

Sure?

Look at the quality of that photo.  Clearly it's a very old file.  Also, the hands are held so differently over the keys.  Note the arch of the palm.  That flat position in the first photo is Horowitz.  Also, I've seen so many portraits of him over the years, and the shape of his fingernails was very distinctive as well.  His hands were so beautiful and elegant he could have been a hand model.

Also, Manuel, the points are very distinct.  Arrau's handkerchiefs were never placed so precisely.

Edit:  When Horowitz was playing, sometimes it looked as if he were slapping at the keyboard, his hands were held so flatly.  I am convinced that the first photo can only be of Horowitz.  Hopefully I won't have to eat crow for this. 

[m_gigena]

Also, Manuel, the points are very distinct.  Arrau's handkerchiefs were never placed so precisely.

Hofmann's were. But he never filmed in colour.

[m_gigena]

Reinforcements have arrived for Nº 3

[Bunny]

Wow!  Talk about hard to see!  You've clearly clipped something (cuffs and cufflinks? )No!!!  I'll bet this is a woman playing, and you have clipped her dress sleeves. 

[BachQ]

3. Cziffra

[m_gigena]

Wow!  Talk about hard to see!  You've clearly clipped something (cuffs and cufflinks? )No!!!  I'll bet this is a woman playing, and you have clipped her dress sleeves. 

I almost chop the hands. 

[Bunny]

I almost chop the hands. 

Good thing you left those -- just imagine the handless pianist -- subject for the next horror thriller.

It's got to be a woman and the dress or bracelet or something like that is going to give it away.  Ho hum, time to get back to work.

[m_gigena]

A second view on Nº 1.

[m_gigena]

Good thing you left those -- just imagine the handless pianist -- subject for the next horror thriller.

Think of it as having half Leon Fleisher.

[Bunny]

3. Cziffra

I hadn't though of him.  I don't know enough about him to rule him in or out.  But I think it is someone who trained here in the US at a young age.  I had two piano teachers when I was knocking around Juilliard as a kid and they both were demons about keeping the wrists down, and the fingers very curled.

Btw, I know that no. 1 is not Leon Fleisher.  I won't even tell you why, but it's not Leon.

[m_gigena]

Btw, I know that no. 1 is not Leon Fleisher.  I won't even tell you why, but it's not Leon.

I was speaking about your horror movie pianist.

1 Leon Fleisher = Half a real pianist   ===>  1/2 Leon Fleiser = your handless pianist

[m_gigena]

Answers tomorrow.



Now the humoreque. A whole pianist is presented here. Who is him?

[BachQ]

A whole pianist is presented here. Who is him?

Kissin

[Bunny]

I was speaking about your horror movie pianist.

1 Leon Fleisher = Half a real pianist   ===>  1/2 Leon Fleiser = your handless pianist

I must be very slow on the uptake tonight.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

A whole pianist is presented here. Who is him?

Rubinstein.

[Bunny]

Arthur Rubinstein.  Look at that fuzzy hair, pure Rubinstein. 

[Bonehelm]

A second view on Nº 1.

God it looks more and more familiar with every look..now I'm almost 100% certain it isn't Horowitz. 

[sidoze]

A second view on Nº 1.

makes me think of Brailowsky

[Lethevich]

Now the humoreque. A whole pianist is presented here. Who is him?

If not one of the two mentioned, perhaps John Ogdon. He used to have an impressive 'fro.

(Plus, on the detective work side, I believe the person responsible for a lot of those classical caricatures was based in England - I forget his name - so that choice isn't quite as random as it sounds )