Mozart Piano Concerto K.466-2, Clara Haskil at Montreux

Clara Haskil and Dinu Lipatti were very big names around 1950/60 and a whole follower generation took example on them. Of course they were not the only ones but they were well known and admired for their way of interpretation. No personal style but serving the composers desires....

We should not fail to include MITSUKO UCHIDA in the pantheon of great female pianists.

I have long admired her Mozart, but discovered recently her MAGNIFICENT, eye-opening, breathtaking performance of Schumann's Carnaval.

Please don't miss that.

In truth all of the women players noted are or were simply great PIANISTS. Their sex is unimportant, since I don't believe in measuring by double-standards.

But, while we're at it, MARIA YUDINA should at least be mentioned.

Certainly. However, in the case of Argerich, even if I am to risk walking on a very slippery slope of sexism, I believe not an insignificant portion of her fame and adoration results from her beautiful appearance - and who wouldn't? A beautiful, impulsive, passionate and romantic pianist gifted by god; she channels her inspiration from divinity - she can do no wrong. I think she is the 20th century pianist most shielded from public criticism.

Le Mozart de Clara Haskil est d'une beauté absolue.

Haskil, Bachauer, Hess, Argerich, etc. Where are the fabulous female pianists today???

Argerich is still around! There's also Maria Joao Pires--I just listened to a superb performance by her of Mozart's K 271 concerto--she also plays Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, and Schumann wonderfully, in my opinion...but then when I try to think of contemporary names of legendary potential like those you mentioned, I can't think of any, with the possible exception of Argerich, Pires and de Larrocha, and they're all over 60 (de Larrocha is 86 and retired).

You left out GUIOMAR NOVAES one of the greatest Chopin and Schumann players who ever lived.

And why didn't you mention Alicia Delarrocha?

Argerich is too full of herself to be categorized with these other women, although I have heard her give great performances. Her Kreisleriana for example is one of the very best ever recorded.

Yes, Novaes and Delarrocha are absolutely fantastic pianists. I used to have similar impressions of Argerich; indulgent and thrilling but only in terms of absolute velocity and uniformly loud volume, uneven tone where the fingers literally slap the keyboard. If the piece even hints at the slightest license for virtuosity or emotional outburst, she takes it overboard. They're a shapeless mess.
Nowadays, I believe her outbursts are sincere, not indulgent.

I admire much of Argerich's work, but I could never feel the deep affection for her that I do for artists such as Novaes, Myra Hess, Haskil, Rubinstein, Serkin (whom I heard many times in person) and Horowitz (when he was at his incomparable best).

Landowska's Bach and also that of Ago Jambor -- two very different artists -- remain supreme in my opinion.

In short respect many players, but adore few.

How about Idil Biret, the Turkish lioness living in Brussels? Possibly ignored because she dared record for Naxos.