Famous pianists you should listen to at least once. Recommended pianists.
Introducing famous pianists you should listen to at least once!
Even people who aren’t into instrumentals often find themselves listening to piano pieces, right?
Unlike the guitar, the piano isn’t an instrument you run through effects, so its tonal individuality can be hard to distinguish—but that also means it appeals to a wide audience.
Here, we’re introducing professional pianists who command the piano as if it were part of their own bodies!
We’ll feature not only international pianists but also Japanese pianists.
The explanations are quite detailed, so even those who regularly listen to classical music should enjoy this!
Now, please sit back and enjoy!
- Masterpiece Performances: Introducing Japan’s World-Renowned Pianists and Their Iconic Performances
- Masterpieces of classical piano that are too beautiful for words. A gathering of delicate tones that cleanse the soul.
- [Piano Variations] A comprehensive showcase of gem-like masterpieces crafted by great composers!
- It’s so cool if you can play these on the piano! A selection of irresistibly charming masterpieces.
- [2026] Jazz piano masterpieces: from standards to recent favorites
- [Ultra-Advanced] Even challenging for advanced players! A curated selection of highly difficult piano pieces
- Jazz Piano Masterpieces: From Classic Essentials to Contemporary Favorites
- [For Intermediate Players] Challenge Yourself! Recommended Masterpieces That Shine at Piano Recitals
- [J-POP] I want to listen to songs with impressive, beautiful piano tones! Recommended piano cover tracks
- [Obituary] Hôko (Hiroko) Nakamura Passes Away: A Collection of Quotes from the International Pianist
- [Classical] Famous Piano Works | Gem-like Masterpieces You’ll Want to Play at Least Once in Your Lifetime
- Famous jazz musicians. Players who have graced the history of jazz.
- Beginner to Intermediate: Chopin pieces with relatively low difficulty. Recommended works by Chopin.
Famous pianists you should listen to at least once. Recommended pianists (21–30)
Mascagni: Intermezzo from Cavalleria RusticanaAchille Lampo
Achille Lampo is an Italian pianist.
The piece he performs is the Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana by the Italian composer Pietro Mascagni.
It was composed based on a novel by Giovanni Verga set in the mountains of Sicily.
Albéniz: From Iberia, “El Puerto” and othersKoyama Michie
Michie Koyama was born in 1959 in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, and grew up in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture.
She is the only Japanese pianist to have placed in both of the two major competitions: third prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1982 and fourth prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition in 1985.
Unusually for a pianist, she has no experience studying abroad.
Iberia, composed by Albéniz in his final years while in poor health, evokes the folk music of Andalusia in southern Spain.
Famous pianists you should listen to at least once. Recommended pianists (31–40)
Chopin: Polonaise No. 6 in A-flat major, Op. 53Cyprien Katsaris
Cyprien Katsaris is a world-renowned pianist from France and also a composer.
His performances combine virtuosity with a poetic sensibility, and he is exceptionally adept at voicing the inner parts.
He is currently engaged in recordings and reissues of his past performances on his own label, PIANO21, which he founded.
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 17Peter Adolf Serkin
Serkin is cited as one of the great pianists of the 20th century.
In 1915, at the age of twelve, he made his debut performing with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, and by seventeen he was giving concerts across Europe.
In 1939, he emigrated to the United States to escape the Nazis and joined the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music.
He founded the Marlboro Music School and Festival.
Regarded as a true heir to the German musical tradition, he was especially acclaimed for his performances of Beethoven.
Schumann: Adagio and Allegro, Op. 70Martha Argerich
Martha Argerich is a world-renowned pianist from Argentina.
She began playing the piano at the age of five and demonstrated her talent early on, performing Mozart and Beethoven piano concertos at eight.
In 1965, she won the International Chopin Piano Competition, gaining international recognition.
Her repertoire spans from Bach to Shostakovich, and her passionate performances continue to captivate audiences.
Since 1998, she has served as the artistic director of the Beppu Argerich Music Festival, dedicating herself to nurturing young musicians.
She is a master I highly recommend not only to those interested in classical music but also to anyone who wants to fully savor the allure of the piano.
Franz Liszt: Grandes études de Paganini No. 3 in G-sharp minor “La Campanella”Ishii Takuma
Takuma Ishii, a pianist who is active as a YouTuber under the channel name “TAKU-ON TV Takuon.” While he may not be at a level to compete on the world stage, as a pianist based in Vienna he boasts highly refined performance skills.
One of his standout performances is this recording of “Franz Liszt: Grandes Études de Paganini No.
3 in G-sharp minor, ‘La Campanella.’” This piece is known to be extremely difficult to play, yet this recording captures a breathtaking rendition in which he performs it with seeming ease.
Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54Murray Perahia
Murray Perahia is an American pianist and conductor born in 1947.
He suffered finger impairment due to sepsis caused by an injury to his right thumb, but in concerts and recordings after his recovery he delivered large-scale performances that showcased his seasoned virtuoso side.
Before this piece, Schumann had begun composing several piano concertos, but none of them were completed.