The 5 Greatest Beethoven Pianists
31K views · Jan 22, 2026 · Music
Comments · 310
@mirkoeinhorn09 · 8 months ago
Schnabel, Kempf, Arrau, Gulda and Brendel. This are the ones I listen to the most.
28
@brtherjohn · 8 months ago
I admit that I really enjoyed the Jeno Jando's Naxos cycle. He also includes the earlier sonatas. He has a certain amount of detachment in his performances but overall they're quite good and well recorded. (His Haydn, Schubert, and Mozart sonata cycles are likewise very similar and consistent.)
28
@ivanramirez6680 · 8 months ago
Claudio Arrau ❤
29
@MrLextune · 5 months ago (edited)
Very solid list of complete sets. Schnabel, Kempff, Arrau and Goode are locks for me.<br>Asked today, my fifth set would be the one done by the young Barenboim.
6
@johnvalentine4720 · 8 months ago (edited)
Not just Beethoven, but in everything, Kempff never played one ugly, or ill-judged note. He could make the most preternaturally beautiful sound, and combined intellect with emotional intelligence. His noble and aristocratic reserve tempered by a refined, poetic sensibility lend to his Beethoven something of this greatest composer's heroic and monumental stature.
44
@lindalindab3284 · 5 months ago
Fantastic description of Richard Goode’s performances. He is just so phenomenal..no words
5
@lisahirsch7800 · 8 months ago
Kovacevich is my go-to Beethoven pianist and I'm glad to see so many nods to him. I'd like to put in a word for the understated and elegant cycle by the French pianist Eric Heidsieck, a good complement to Kovacevich.
23
@josejaviersoloveracano1558 · 8 months ago
While agreeing with David's choices I dare to suggest the cycle by Annie Fischer (Hungaroton) deserves a place at the top. Recorded over 15 years it captures the genius and passion of this fabulous artist. Not easy to come by these days-grab it if you can
7
@tarakb7606 · 8 months ago
Gulda and Backhaus would have to be on my list.
24
@mrwelch2004 · 8 months ago
I've listened to the Gulda (Amadeo) set more times than I can count. All played with supreme confidence and many that swing in almost jazz like fashion.
49
@Sparklepony · 8 months ago
A complete Richter cycle is one of those great “what ifs” in my opinion. I wish we had one, but I love your list and echo Kempf!
10
@patrickroycroft6106 · 8 months ago
I had the immense pleasure of hearing Arrau in the mid-70s play op 57 and op 111 (and the Liszt sonata after the interval). Unforgettable.
16
Up next
The 5 Greatest Wannabe Mahler Conductors
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by Dave Hurwitz · 12K views
16 Composers Whose Music I Couldn’t Live Without
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by Dave Hurwitz · 43K views
12 Crazy and Insane Composers
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by Dave Hurwitz · 42K views
This is What Really Happens to Russia When Putin Loses | Sarah Paine
Pyotr Kurzin | Geopolitics and Pyotr Kurzin | Clips · 807K views
Melanie Phillips on Ed Miliband’s lies about Israel and the West Bank | The Brendan O’Neill Show
spiked · 29K views
Sir András Schiff: The Sad Fate of Ageing Pianists
Sight Read Everything · 40K views
Claudio Arrau Beethoven "Appassionata" (Full)
Farookhq17 · 2.9M views
The 12 MOST ANNOYING Conductors EVER!
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by Dave Hurwitz · 78K views
Pathologist reveals Trump's worst symptoms
David Pakman Show and Hilary M.A. CCC-SLP · 1.1M views
The Voynich Manuscript Was Reanalyzed by AI - Nobody Expected the Findings
Quantumized · 80K views
The 5 Greatest Chopin Pianists
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by Dave Hurwitz · 16K views
Beethoven — [Focus] Top 15 Masterpieces to Rebuild Willpower & Awaken Deep Focus 🔥
Painted Classical Atelier · 337K views
The Five Greatest Liszt Pianists
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by Dave Hurwitz · 8.9K views
The one thing that will instantly stop Putin's war machine | Bill Browder
The Sun · 841K views
10 Hours Classical Music | Mozart, Bach, Chopin...
HALIDONMUSIC · 2M views
One of Trump's ‘big lies’ is about to come crashing down | Charlie Sykes
The Trump Report and To the Contrary With Charlie Sykes · 327K views
Repertoire: The BEST Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycles
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by Dave Hurwitz · 75K views
Russia Goes Dark
Joe Blogs · 339K views
Sylvester Stallone Hid His Struggles. At 80, He’s Coming Clean. | The Interview
The Interview and 2 more · 895K views
The Five Greatest Debussy Pianists
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by Dave Hurwitz · 10K views
Beethoven - Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 (Richard Goode)
MrPalika123 · 26K views
The Five Greatest Schubert Pianists
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by Dave Hurwitz · 16K views
I Know the Secret of Why Trump Truly Fears Putin | The Daily Beast Podcast
The Daily Beast · 415K views
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor ARTURO BENEDETTI MICHELANGELI
roger b · 346K views
Repertoire: Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony--The BEST and the WORST
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by Dave Hurwitz · 59K views
Trump Created a CRISIS that Half the Country Doesn't Know About! (feat. Sarah Kendzior)
The Mark Thompson Show · 16K views