Let’s dive into the legend of Schonberg’s masterpiece. First, a quick primer. Harold C. Schonberg was the senior music critic for The New York Times and the only music critic to ever win a Pulitzer Prize for criticism. When he wrote The Great Pianists , he wasn’t just listing names. He wrote a swashbuckling narrative.
Unlike Beethoven's sheet music, Schonberg’s text is still under copyright (the revised edition from 1987 is protected until at least 2042). While the original 1963 text might be public domain in some countries, the revised edition—which includes crucial updates on Van Cliburn, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and others—is legally protected. Harold Schonberg The Great Pianists Pdf
It is one of the most searched—and most elusive—classical music texts on the internet. Let’s dive into the legend of Schonberg’s masterpiece
Once you read Schonberg’s description of Artur Schnabel’s intellectual depth, or the sheer terror of watching Liszt play, you will never listen to a piano recording the same way again. Schonberg was the senior music critic for The
The music—and Schonberg’s brilliant prose—is worth the small effort. Have you read The Great Pianists ? Who is your favorite "forgotten" virtuoso mentioned in the book? Let me know in the comments below.