Was Glenn Gould the best pianist ever, and if not who was?

Question

I mean the best player of Bach.
I know Bach is the undisputed writer of piano music.

Answer 1

I'd go for a three-way tie: Glenn Gould, Arthur Rubenstein, and Sergei Rachmaninoff himself!

Answer 2

I think it's very difficult to say who the 'best pianist ever' was since there are so many differing opinions. Glenn Gould is of course recognized as a master interpreter of Bach, though.

Answer 3

I hate these questions:-) Nonetheless, I'll take a stab. Glenn Gould was a great pianist when playing Bach. If I had to categorize him, I'd say he was the best Bach/Gould pianist. Meaning, when he played, he was not simply playing a composition of Bach...it was partially his own. I know this may seem blasphemous, but you should listen to Pogorelich playing Bach. It's surprisingly magnificent!

Answer 4

Gould was certainly very good, top level. But we can't compare him to famous pianists of the past, like Franz Liszt. There was a 'golden age' of piano around 1900 and many of the famous virtuosos of that time were recorded on piano rolls, some on records, people like Anton Rubinstein, Paderewski, Scriabin, Rachmaninof, etc., and I think some of those guys were as good as Gould, maybe better.

Also I take points off for refusing to play concerts. 8^) Gould not only refused to play concerts, but when he was recorded he 'sang' along with the piano. The recording engineers had to put soundproofing barriers in front of him. He said he was unaware he was doing it.

Answer 5

It's awfully difficult to say one is THE best. I LOVE Horowitz and he had the most amazing way of creating excitement. Rubinstein was phenomenal too but very different! No one could beat Gould at Bach unless maybe Wanda Landowska? Both extremely strange, quirky people. It sure would help if Gould didn't sing along though! LOL

Answer 6

He is generally accepted as the guy who redefined the playing of Bach on the piano - at a time when it was considered by many, to be the wrong instrument for the purpose. To my mind however, his renditions (as brilliantly played as they are) are rather "mannered." That is to say more than a little idiosyncratic. Having said that the only 'Bach specialists' that compare are Andras Schiff and the delightful Angela Hewitt, both of who in time may be regarded as definitive of Bach on the piano. Several other notable Bach performers are around, not the least of which is Alfred Brendel, who whilst not really regarded as a Bach player per se, plays the work in a pianistic and cerebral manner.

Answer 7

Best Pianist

Answer 8

It depends what you mean by "best". Gould was certainly a very brilliant pianist within his genre, but there are other genres of music, each with its own "best" pianist.

Answer 9

Vladimir Horowitz was the best

JSBach did not compose for the piano, the piano wasn't invented until Bach was very old. He hated the piano and it was his grandson , Christopher Bach who wrote for the piano.
Bach's instrument was the organ, he also composed for harpsichord and clavichord. including the instruments of the orchestra
As the piano became more popular, the one composer that really loved it and composed mainly for the piano was F.Chopin

Answer 10

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