Massage and Linger

[MN Dave]

From what school of pianism is Claudio Arrau and which pianists are similar? (No one could be the same, surely.)

Thanks.

[dirkronk]

Not sure if this is what you mean, but as a 9-year-old Arrau studied at the Stern Conservatory in Berlin with Martin Krause, a Liszt pupil who also trained Edwin Fischer and Arrau's countrywoman Rosita Renard (who was 7 years older than Arrau and a sadly overlooked talent). Who he studied with after that, I don't know...but I'll bet someone here does!


Regardless of what school of pianism Arrau originally belonged to, he took a major turn in the middle of his career into a much less virtuosic and much more "contemplative" avenue. Personally, I like the younger Arrau's playing better (in general--there are exceptions) than that of the older Arrau. I speculated for a while that aliens might have abducted the original Arrau and substituted a gifted clone, but I have no real proof of this.


Dirk

[MN Dave]

Thank you, Dirk. I always look forward to your posts. Yes, "contemplative" pianists are whom I'm after.

[orbital]

Those fingernails 

I like him best in Liszt, so mostly stuff from when he was a little younger (and his nails were cut shorter  ). My favorite CD of his:


As to your question, I don't know if there is another pianist who is very close. I don't know if he has a very distinct style. He is just great with some music, and his trills are unmatched IMO.

[MN Dave]

Those fingernails 

I like him best in Liszt, so mostly stuff from when he was a little younger (and his nails were cut shorter  ). My favorite CD of his:


As to your question, I don't know if there is another pianist who is very close. I don't know if he has a very distinct style. He is just great with some music, and his trills are unmatched IMO.

I don't have much Liszt so that is probably one to get.

[orbital]

I don't have much Liszt so that is probably one to get.

It has the 1st concerto with Ormandy and solo pieces: fantasy and some rhapsodies. It is not particularly from an early age, I think recorded in the 60's approximately the same time as his BEethoven set. But in Liszt he is much more at home IMO.

[MN Dave]

It has the 1st concerto with Ormandy and solo pieces: fantasy and some rhapsodies. It is not particularly from an early age, I think recorded in the 60's approximately the same time as his BEethoven set. But in Liszt he is much more at home IMO.

Well, I like his Beethoven, so I'll probably check it out. Though I may like it because his are some of the first LvB sonatas I'd heard.

[sidoze]

Who he studied with after that, I don't know...but I'll bet someone here does!

didn't study with anyone. i think krause died when arrau was 15 and after that he did things himself (aside from seeing the shrink)

Regardless of what school of pianism Arrau originally belonged to, he took a major turn in the middle of his career into a much less virtuosic and much more "contemplative" avenue.

yes and no. if you hear arrau's complete pre-war recordings on marston, you'll hear an amazingly slow and heavy Schubert MM, very similar to what he recorded at the end of his life.