With feats of athleticism dominating the news these days, it’s an opportunity to take a look at some virtuosic achievements in pianism. Here are five videos of world-class performers at the top of their game. Watch them tackle the taxing leaps and devilish trills in Franz Liszt’s Grandes études de Paganini, No. 3, La Campanella. Then it’s your chance to be a judge and rank them in our survey. Don’t forget to consider both technical merit and artistic impression.
Valentina Lisitsa
Fan favourite Valentina Lisitsa has more than 30 million views on her YouTube channel, and a new Decca recording contract.
Evgeny Kissin
Evgeny Kissin, sweat pouring on the piano, will need to rehydrate after this effort.
Alice Sara Ott
Is it a level playing field for Alice Sara Ott? This studio performance might have given her the opportunity for a few judicious edits.
Marc-André Hamelin
Marc-André Hamelin knocks it out of the park without performance-enhancing visuals.
Lang Lang
No stranger to the stadium, Lang Lang juices up his Liszt with theatrical effects more often seen at a WWE match.
Who has the winning performance?
posted by
Catherine McClelland
on Aug 01, 2012