Amazing Solo Piano Recordings


I'm looking to get your oppinions on the best solo piano recordings available. Style or genre is not important as long as the recording is pristine, clear, open and in your oppinion AMAZING! Please if you can, state artist, label, etc., so we audiogoner's can buy 'em!
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On the first Stereophile test CD is my favorite solo piano recording. The performance is by Anna Maria Stanczyk of Frederick Chopin's Scherzo in b-flat Op. 31. The liner notes have some interesting information about the recording and performance. The CD can of course be purchased from Stereophile, or if you prefer from amusicdirect.com for $8.99 + shipping. I often use this track when auditioning equipment, especially speakers. On good systems the imaging is astonishing and the performance carries a lot of emotion.
Artur Schnabel Late Beethoven sonatas , EMI
Walter Gieseking Schumann Kinderscenen, and Davidsbundlertanze
Artur Schnabel Schubert Sonatas
Oscar Levant Gershwin Preludes
Radu Lupu Schubert Impromptus
Walter Gieseking Mendelssohn Songs Without Words
Get Stephen Hough's "English Piano Album" on Hyperion! Great playing recording and choice of selections. John K.
Anything by Mikhail Pletnev, the Russian pianist. His recording of "Pictures From An Exhibition" on Virgin is stunning. I can't stand the orchestral version of Pictures...the original piano version is vastly superior.

Two other Pletnev recordings well worth having are his Scarlatti sonatas (on piano, not harpsichord; also on Virgin, I think) and "Live at Carnegie Hall" on DG.

Pletnev, in my view, is equivalent to another Russian great, the late Emil Gilels.