Musicians

Still alive. Still worth the trip.

Fly to hear

• Martha Argerich — pianoHundreds of pianists in — I've never heard anyone else come close. No affectation, sheer instinct. The greatest alive. Period.
• Herbert Blomstedt — conductorThe last serious interpreter of Beethoven and Bruckner. His Bamberg Beethoven 4 in December 2025 was divine.

Other greats

• Pierre-Laurent Aimard — pianoThe reference for contemporary repertoire. His Ligeti/Beethoven/Chopin/Debussy Études at Geffen Hall — the program itself was art. Solo only; concertos are not.
• Leif Ove Andsnes — pianoRecordings don't do him justice. Live, his Beethoven concertos stand with Arrau and Serkin. Northern Europe's greatest pianist.
• Yulianna Avdeeva — pianoSolid, three-dimensional sound; a distinctive interpretive mind.
• Emanuel Ax — pianoEspecially fine in the early Beethoven sonatas. Strong in the German-Austrian repertoire generally. From the last great American-trained generation — the one Curtis and Juilliard produced before they turned into star factories.
• Joshua Bell — violinExcellent in the Romantic repertoire; not at home in the Classical.
• Bertrand Chamayou — pianoThe best French-school pianist today.
• Jakub Hrůša — conductorThe only conductor who has convinced me in Shostakovich live — his Shos 11 at the CSO was the best night I've had in that hall. At his best in early 20th-century repertoire: Prokofiev, Bartók, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich. Skip him for Wagner and Brahms.
• Paul Lewis — pianoBrendel's closest heir — about seven-eighths of the way there.
• Beatrice Rana — pianoOne of Arie Vardi's two strongest students.
• András Schiff — pianoA real Bach interpreter — the dance suites especially. Hears the whole architecture of a sonata before the first note. Solo and chamber are strong; concertos are not. The last Shanghai standing ovation I actually trusted.
• Yeol Eum Son — pianoOne of Arie Vardi's two strongest students.
• Simone Young — conductorA top Wagner interpreter; the one Australian conductor of real stature.
• Pinchas Zukerman — violinStrong in the German-Austrian repertoire. A rare effortlessness — as if none of it costs him a thing. From that same American-trained generation.

Past peak, still on stage

• Chen Pi-hsien — pianoPlain and direct.
• Richard Goode — pianoFrom that same American-trained generation.
• Elisso Virsaladze — pianoWas the only living pianist who could stand next to Argerich, until the last few years. Her live Schumann and Schubert were the finest I've heard.