Five famous piano players who will instantly inspire you

Hello! Are you a young artist with a zeal for piano? But do you feel stuck sometimes?

Well, you’ve landed on the right page. We firmly believe that playing the piano is an art that requires dedication, commitment to practice, and self-improvement. But do you know what’s equally important? To take breaks, look around, seek inspiration from the world’s great pianists, and get back to practicing again.

Exploring the work of famous musicians not only deepens your craft but also teaches you new things about the world of music. If you are a budding pianist, Piano for All Review has something stored in for you. But before that let’s take you on a journey to meet these inspiring pianists.

1. Claudio Arrau

It’s said that Claudio Arrau could read music before he could read words. He was particularly adept at evoking moving emotions through simple melodies, and his tone was very rich and heavy.

At age eight, Arrau’s ability was so advanced that the Chilean government paid for him to study in Berlin with the best teacher. Owing to his excellent craft, he gained an enormous international reputation, especially after World War II. Although he could perform virtuoso pieces with the best of his rivals, his true aim was to explore the great works ever written.

Arrau was like Faust among pianists, perpetually dissatisfied and disturbed, but cultivating warmth and a distinctive tone. Often his playing was overlaid with self-consciousness to a suffocating extent, but his ability in the most profound compositions is unparalleled.

“When I am playing, I am in ecstasy; that is what I live for,” Arrau shares.

2. Martha Argerich

Do contemporary female artists appeal to you the most? Then Martha Argerich is the answer.

While her interpretations of romantic composers are both contemporary and classical, she amazes the listener with equally aggressive and light-hearted approaches.

Born in Argentina, Argerich began piano lessons at the tender age of three. From playing her first piano concerto just at the age of eight to winning the International Chopin Piano Competition in 1965, she established her name on the world stage.

Her support of aspiring pianists has been apparent. Outside of concerts, she eschews the spotlight and avoids the press. She has earned an international reputation and is one of the most inspirational piano players.

“I love very much to play the piano, but I don’t like to be a pianist. I don’t like the profession,” states Argerich.

3. Murray Perahia

By the age of 15, Murray Perahia became seriously interested in music. His 1972 win at the Leeds Piano Competition made him the first North American to win. At the Aldeburgh Festival, he has worked with Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears. It is Perahia’s performance of Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 1” that most effectively displays the qualities which have made him an icon.

“I’m interested in the thing that lasts forever: the thought behind the music,” comments Perahia.

4. Sviatoslav Richter

Considered as a superhuman player of his time, Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter is one of the few great pianists of the 20th Century who emerged from the Soviet Union. He wasn’t fond of the recording process, however, so his greatest albums are recordings of his live performances.

With ferocious speed and precision, he performed pieces exactly as their composers had written them. He was a man with immense talent.

“A truly great piano is one that enables you to convey deep emotion,” Richter shares.

5. Hélène Grimaud

Helène Grimaud was born with Synesthesia, a condition that characterized her ability to see different colors in music. She used this to her advantage by memorizing different music compositions much more easily than other people.

Her 1987 debut recital performance in Japan caught the attention of Daniel Barenboim and got her invited to perform with the Orchestre de Paris. The French government recognized her valuable contribution to classical music by awarding her with several laurels.

Even at the age of 50, she is delivering spectacular performances.

“Music does not live until it’s interpreted – with all of its flaws, mannerisms, etc,” Grimaud explains. “It needs to be incarnated to be something.”

These artists have each led an inspiring journey, serving as an excellent example for all existing and budding pianists. Despite the diversity, the one thing that they all share in common is the sheer love for music.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com