The Great pianists from Mozart to the Present

The Great Pianists from Mozart to the Present traces the history and evolution of piano performance from the late 18th century through modern times. Through biographical sketches and musical analysis, Schonberg documents the techniques, interpretive approaches, and careers of influential pianists across multiple eras. The book examines the major schools of piano playing that emerged in different periods and regions, from the Classical style to the Russian school. Technical innovations, changing performance practices, and the impact of recording technology receive focused attention throughout the chronological narrative. The text incorporates contemporary accounts, reviews, and firsthand observations of the featured pianists in performance. Schonberg draws from historical documents, letters, and criticism to construct detailed portraits of both celebrated virtuosos and lesser-known but significant performers. At its core, this work explores how individual artists shaped the development of piano performance while reflecting the musical values and aesthetic preferences of their times. The book serves as both a reference work and a meditation on the nature of musical interpretation and artistic legacy.

Readers value this book as a comprehensive reference on pianists and piano history, with detailed coverage of technique evolution and performance styles from 1700s to 1900s. Likes: - Engaging biographical details and anecdotes about major pianists - Clear explanations of different piano schools and teaching lineages - In-depth coverage of both well-known and obscure historical performers Dislikes: - Some readers note Schonberg's strong personal opinions and biases - Coverage becomes thinner for pianists after 1950 - A few factual errors in dates and details - Limited discussion of contemporary pianists Ratings: Goodreads: 4.26/5 (156 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (89 reviews) Notable reader comments: "Brings historical pianists to life through vivid writing" - Goodreads reviewer "Too dismissive of modern performers" - Amazon reviewer "Best single-volume history of piano performance" - Classical Music Forum "Worth reading despite occasional inaccuracies" - Piano World Forum

The Virtuosi: Classical Music's Great Performers by Harold C. Schonberg Chronicles the lives and careers of legendary performers from the 18th through 20th centuries with accounts of their techniques, personalities, and contributions to music history.

The Lives of the Great Composers by Harold C. Schonberg Presents biographical portraits of music's master composers from Bach to Stravinsky, detailing their musical innovations and historical impact.

Piano Notes: The Hidden World of the Pianist by Charles Rosen Explores the technical, artistic, and philosophical aspects of piano playing through the perspective of a concert pianist and scholar.

The Art of Piano Playing by Heinrich Neuhaus Combines practical instruction with musical philosophy based on the teaching methods used with students including Sviatoslav Richter and Emil Gilels.

Artists in Exile by Joseph Horowitz Traces the impact of European musicians who fled to America during wartime, transforming the musical landscape of their adopted country through performance and teaching.

🎹 The book, first published in 1963, has remained in print continuously for over 50 years, making it one of the most enduring texts on piano history. 🎼 Harold C. Schonberg was the first music critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism (1971), though this achievement came after writing this particular book. 🎭 The book covers not just the pianists' musical abilities, but also their personalities and feuds—including the famous rivalry between Franz Liszt and Sigismund Thalberg, who once held a "piano duel" in Princess Belgiojoso's salon. 📚 Schonberg conducted personal interviews with many of the 20th-century pianists featured in the book, including Arthur Rubinstein and Vladimir Horowitz, providing firsthand accounts that would be impossible to obtain today. 🌟 The work traces the evolution of piano technique from the light, finger-oriented playing of Mozart's era through the development of weight playing, showing how the instrument itself evolved alongside performance styles.