When you think of classical music and an instrument in particular, the piano probably comes to mind. It is undoubtedly one of the instruments that produces the most beautiful and varied music imaginable.
Throughout history, numerous virtuosos have delighted audiences with their performances. In another era, playing the piano was a basic requirement to be considered a lady of high society. When it comes to the best pianists, the most likely people to think of are classical artists such as Franz Schubert, Ludwig van Beethoven or even Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is really difficult to make a list of the best pianists in history.
But not everything goes back to the classical world. Even today, there are many great pianists all over the world, both men and women. Therefore, it is practically impossible to choose just one person as the best pianist of today.
In addition, many of the great pianists currently compose the soundtracks that enrich the seventh art and make feature films unforgettable. Their compositions travel the world and are remembered.
In this context, it should not be forgotten that not everyone has the same opinion and different factors come into play, such as musicality, originality of the pieces, harmony, creativity. Depending on the composition, one artist or another can benefit according to their respective abilities. Likewise, it is not the same for a pianist to play solo than for him to be accompanied by a whole symphony orchestra.
The 5 best pianists of the 21st century
Here is a small selection of the best pianists of today, which includes artists of different kinds.
Louis Lortie One of the most sought-after pianists of today. Originally from Canada and living in Berlin, he is internationally renowned and known as a great interpreter of pieces by Beethoven, Chopin and Ravel.
Lortie made his debut at the age of 13 with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. A few years later, he played with the Toronto Symphony and toured Japan and China. In 2017 and 2018 he performed as a guest artist with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.
Tigran Hamasyan
Tigran Hamasyan is a jazz pianist of Armenian origin. Tigran played his first notes when he was only 3 years old. At the age of 9 he began studying jazz.
Tigran Hamasyan is one of those artists who loves to play original compositions while adding folk melodies. Undoubtedly he is one of the most talented pianists of today and one of the best representatives of music in general.
Yuja Wang
One of the best Chinese pianists. At the age of fifteen, Wang began studying at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. There she was praised for her combination of majestic technique and tasteful playing. Yuja Wang has performed in cities all over the world, from Zurich to New York, performing pieces by Mendelsohn, Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev and Mozart.
She has also had the opportunity to work with many of the world’s greatest orchestras, such as the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic and the NHK Symphony in Tokyo. Her performances have been described as glamorous and captivating.
Brad Mehldau
Brad Mehldau is one of the greatest jazz exponents today. Not only is he a great jazz pianist, but he also excels as a composer and arranger. After studying at the New School in Manhattan, Brad Mehldau began experimenting with different styles of music, such as electronic and rock. He also had the opportunity to play and record with acclaimed artists such as saxophonist Lee Konitz, guitarist Pat Metheny and bassist Charlie Haden. Hélène Grimaud One of the most celebrated French pianists.
She learned to play the piano at the age of nine. In 1982, Hélène Grimaud entered the Paris Conservatory, one of the oldest and most prestigious academic institutions in France. Her style is considered daring and innovative. As a pianist, she prefers “tempo rubato,” an expressive freedom in which the tempo of a piece is increased and decreased. For this reason, her interpretations sound completely different from those of other pianists. She has achieved her own musical identity.
