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Harold C. Schonberg’s The Great Pianists is widely considered the definitive "biography" of the piano as an instrument of virtuosity. Spanning from the harpsichord era of Mozart and Clementi to the mid-20th-century giants like Horowitz and Rubinstein, it is a masterclass in music criticism that feels more like a series of vivid, backstage portraits than a dry history book.
The heart of the book belongs to the 19th-century Romantic era. Schonberg vividly brings to life the technical wizardry and showmanship of Franz Liszt—the world's first true musical superstar—and contrasts it with the intimate, poetic, and nuanced genius of Frédéric Chopin. 3. The Golden Age of Virtuosity
Exploring the Legacy of The Great Pianists by Harold C. Schonberg: A Definitive Guide
The narrative continues into the 20th century, covering the transition to the "modern" style of playing. Schonberg profiles giants such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Josef Hofmann, Artur Rubinstein, and the eccentric Glenn Gould. He concludes with the generation of pianists rising to prominence in the mid-20th century, such as Vladimir Horowitz and Sviatoslav Richter.
: It explores shifting philosophies, detailing the differences between the Lisztian and Leschetitzky traditions, as well as the transition from Romanticism to strict 20th-century fidelity to the score. Modern Masters
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