Top 10 Best Moments In Classical Piano (Solo Works)

THIS LIST IS PURELY SUBJECTIVE
These pieces are very special to me.
I hope you enjoy.
These are solo works only. I did not include Piano Concertos
List:
10. Rachmaninoff Etude Tableux Op.39 No.5 (Lugansky) - 00:00
9. Chopin Ballade No.2 Coda (Zimerman) - 00:50
8. Liszt Sonetto 104 Del Pertrarca (Piemontesi) - 01:37
7. Medtner Sonata Reminiscenza Op.38 No.1 (Gilels) - 02:39
6. Chopin Sonata no.3 - 4th movement (Seong Jin Cho) - 03:29
5. Liszt Piano Sonata in B Minor (Zimerman) - 04:33
4. Medtner Sonata Tragica Op.39 No.5 (Tozer) - 06:13
3. Shumann Op.99 No.2 (Richter) - 07:27
2. Beethoven Sonata No.30 Op.109 -3rd Movement Finale (Goode) - 08:08
1. Scriabin Sonata No.4 Coda (Pogorelich) - 09:47
Original Videos:
10. Rachmaninoff Etude Op.39 No.5 - • Rachmaninoff: Etude-Ta...
9. Chopin Ballade 2 - • Chopin Ballade No.2 in...
8. Liszt Sonetto Del Pertrarca - • Liszt: Années de pèler...
7. Medtner Sonata Op.38 No.1 - • Medtner - Sonata Remin...
6. Chopin Sonata no.3 4th movement - • Chopin-Sonata No.3 4th...
5. Liszt Sonata B Minor - • Liszt: Sonata in B Min...
4. Medtner Tragica Op.39 No.5 - • Medtner - Sonata Tragi...
3. Shumann Op.99 no.2 - • Robert Schumann: Bunte...
2. Beethoven Sonata No.30 Op.109 - • Beethoven: Sonata No.3...
1. Scriabin Sonata No.4 - • Scriabin - Piano Sonat...

[@Caliko]

Yeah okay, starting the list with *that* part from Rach Op. 39 No. 5... good taste, agree completely

[@SerpongeDash]

Was one of my fav rach for a while

[@jamesrockybullin5250]

Finally, Scriabin in his rightful place!

[@evanwyatt2862]

Thank the heavens Liszt sonata in b made it on here. I've started to wonder what otherworldly things inspired Liszt as he wrote it. Eveything about that piece is just amazing. Great vid!

[@angryowl6226]

"this list is purely subjective" NO you are OBJECTIVELY correct with lugansky. he eats every single time, he's my favourite pianist ever lol

[@liam2741]

Nice! I also love Lugansky.

[@Phantanatomy]

The section at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="548">9:08</a> in the Beethoven sonata has to be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. It’s like the very essence of music unraveling and being put back together again, hard to believe a human being even composed this.

[@TyeLeavittPiano-zv9hf]

Liszt’s sonetto 104 del Petrarca is so beautiful.

[@eliplayer2122]

sadly the interpertation here is bad

[@zswu31416]

Love the inclusion of Medtner, my favorite composer!

[@herrbrahms]

Beethoven Op. 111 II. Recapitulation of the Arietta with the accompanying triplets RH and flowing ninelets LH.

[@liam2741]

Great choice!! Definitely one of my favorite moments in Beethovens late sonatas.

[@pavlenikacevic4976]

I've yet to encounter a more profound moment in music history than that one and the chorale sections of Heiliger Dankgesang

[@Gabe-zm9vh]

I love Scriabin’s 4th and 5th sonatas

[@user-uw7kj5wz2t]

4th sonata is one of my favourites, but 5th sonata goes further. Both its culminations - central and final are gorgeous, but what is interesting about final, after it music doesn’t end but just breaks off, as in further Scriabin opuses…

[@LukeFaulkner]

Nice to see some Medtner love

[@liam2741]

Thanks for commenting :) LukeFaulkner It is so nice to see you here! I am a huge fan of you!😃

[@central9823]

Great list! Night wind and Romantica are my favorites from Medtner. But actually every piece from Medtner is precious

[@liam2741]

True! Medtner is actually in my top 5 list of favorite composers.

[@louisdawes2337]

Good to see some appreciation for chopin ballade in F

[@liam2741]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@teodorb.p.composer]

Yes! Medtner is extremely underrated despite he is the best!

[@kasajizo8963]

I'm glad you included the beethoven sonata as it's my favourite piece of all time. I can tell you know your stuff.

[@liam2741]

Thank you! :)

[@hannesdewinter1458]

Just no words for how beautiful that piece is

[@lavatrex]

ballade in F, the most special piece to me, nice to see it on here

[@liam2741]

Same!! I also have a very special connection to the piece.

[@SirloucoPiano]

That's great! I really like Liszt Sonetto 104 del Petrarca. It's one of most enjoyable pieces i've played, the performance that you used is so clean, those fast thirds are tricky

[@liam2741]

Great to hear! 👍🏻

[@ukdavepianoman]

The climax in Rachmaninov Etude Op 39 No 5 is thrilling. All of Lizst Piano Sonata is thrilling. Scriabin Piano Sonata 4 ending is jubilant, erotic and great fun to play. Not included here but I'd say the ending of Scriabin Piano Sonata 5 is also magnificent.

[@Lcpiano1224]

Great job!! Love it

[@liam2741]

Thank you!!

[@Merp998]

This was such a rollercoaster, amazing music

[@jasonkim5503]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful list. Schumann Op.99. was a revelation to me, so were the two Medtners. Felt like the Beethoven didn’t belong, simply because of the period/style reasons.

[@liam2741]

I am glad you enjoyed the Medtner and Schumann pieces.👍🏻

[@michaelgoutman681]

Beethoven doesn't quite belong in this list, true. For a different reason though - Op 109 (as well as Op 111) are so much above the rest of the list (IMHO of course). If feels like he has already found what all others are still looking for :)

[@knownasdark]

OHH bro i really love scriabin sonata! thanks!!!

[@gloriapatrietspirituisanct8825]

This selection from the Beethoven sonata is among my favorite selections of music ever composed.

[@JIM-ot4ws]

Have you ever listened to the Bacarolle by Chopin. I could go on and on about it. You sense bobbing of gondolas on the lagoon in Venice, gentle weaving and splashing of water currents that are overtaken by stronger currents. Very sophisticated and evocative, one of the last pieces he wrote.

[@JerryEboy69]

Not bad, but this is a little romantic biased... nah don't worry about it; it was an awesome vid! Glad to see some of my favorite pieces

[@Davide.furlan]

Ballade no.4 please. The moment before the coda is absoloutly gorgeous

[@miguelp384]

Personally, I prefer the coda of the ballade in 3, 2 and 1. However, it is really beautiful.

[@claudioparrella183]

i trilli sono unici

[@1389Chopin]

This was great! Extended list Chopin g minor coda Liszt funerailles Liszt spanish rhap Ravel la valse (yuja) Ravel scarbo Barber sonata fugue Brahms handle variation fugue

[@liam2741]

Those are some good suggestions! Especially the Ravel La valse. I actually should’ve included that piece.

[@kofiLjunggren]

Wow! Very nice list!

[@liam2741]

Thank you very much! :)

[@2milk162]

Right when I saw this video I new Scriabin 4th sonata was going to be number 1 . It’s my favorite piece of all time by far. Great list.

[@liam2741]

Same!! I love that piece to death. I am glad you liked it. :)

[@michaelgeorge4643]

It is my 2nd favorite piece of all time, but how did you know it'd be #1? Usually these lists are very cliche and predictable, I was very shocked to see Scriabin even make the list

[@anhducduong0105]

OMFG, dat last Scriabin's is truly banger and so brutal.

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

It truly is a banger but it is not even remotely brutal. According to a poem that Scriabin wrote on the piece, it probably represents the fulfillment of one's innermost desires and ecstasy.

[@a-trainstudios2360]

For chopin's sonata no 3, I suggest you include the coda too. It makes the entire section feel complete

[@BRNRDNCK]

The greatest single moment in piano music is the reentrance of Theme 2 before the Coda in Chopin’s Fm ballade. There are two measures in that section which comprise the greatest five seconds of music ever written.

[@ryanmanning2319]

If you’re talking about the measures where the the right and left hands play 3 on 2 with the tune coming every 4th note, I agree. Super hard to play too.

[@BRNRDNCK]

@@ryanmanning2319 That’s exactly the part I meant, thanks. Unbelievably beautiful.

[@Adrien-on7gz]

Very goode list 👍🏻

[@liam2741]

Thank you!!

[@yeetthebeet]

The scriabin sonatas are transcendental easily some of the best works of art put on this planet

[@liam2741]

Thanks for commenting ;) I love your content btw!

[@yeetthebeet]

np and thanks!@@liam2741

[@RaptorT1V]

You get a like for Scriabin on top of the list

[@liam2741]

😊😊

[@mysterium364]

I don't think I could ever get inside the mind of someone who likes Ballade 2 more than Ballade 4.

[@liam2741]

Ballade no.2 is just very special to me.

[@mysterium364]

@@liam2741 Can't argue with that. I hardly have a better reason for liking Ballade 4.

[@user-qn5kh2tz2r]

true, I expected coda of 1st or 4th

[@antoineroche2073]

Nice, but.... where is Ravel ??!

[@Dylonely42]

And Alkan.

[@liam2741]

I only know a handful of pieces by him like an estimated of 10-15 pieces. My Ravel knowledge is not so good. Do you have any good suggestions?

[@jgiles2016]

Ondine climax from gaspard de la nuit or alborada del gracioso from miroirs are good candidates imo

[@thinkOfMeAsAClassicalMusician]

@@liam2741he didn’t write much more than 15 solo piano pieces actually

[@Lavirfra]

@@Dylonely42 There should be a Top 10 best moments in Alkan pieces.

[@karrotkake]

id also recommend liszt's benediction de dieu dans la solitude, some amazing moments in there

[@oritdrimer4354]

Prok 4 has so many moments that I Adore, Especcialy the beginning of the 3rd movement and the Coda of the 1st movement. Also Scriabin's 5 coda is spectacular

[@liam2741]

I definitely need to listen to more Prokofiev, Do you have any good suggestions? I also agree that the Scriabin Sonata 5 coda is very very good!

[@vine2197]

​@@liam2741sonata 8, symphony 6, his suites, and more more more...

[@oritdrimer4354]

@@liam2741 the sonatas (yes, all of them are great), the 2nd and 3rd piano concertos, the classical and fifth symphonies and the 1st violin concerto are all great works by Prokofiev.

[@ScriabinEnjoyer]

@@oritdrimer4354Nice profile pic. Lol

[@frankgermaine76]

una maravilla

[@pianoplaynight]

Great list, for Schumann I would've personally picked the 7th movement from the Kreisleriana or the finale from the Fantasy, second mov... Too many epic Schumann moments to choose from

[@liam2741]

You are definitely right. There are way too many epic moments from Shumann to choose from. I just chose op.99 no.2, because that piece is very near and dear to me. But I also really wanted to choose Op.82 no.4 and Op.12 no.3

[@klippklapp3004]

Do you have any Schumann recommendations? I’m very familiar with pretty much every romantic composer except Schumann, so I would love to dive into some stuff

[@nandovancreij]

​@@klippklapp3004 fantasy in c, sonata 1 and 2, kreisleriana (in order of listening )

[@liam2741]

@@klippklapp3004Listen to Schumann Op.12 and Op.82 (all of them are great) and Schumann Op.6 “Davidsbundlertanze” and then there is also his Toccata Op.7

[@ano_do]

Rachmaninoff ❤❤

[@mysterium364]

Pogorelich plays the Scriabin Sonata 4 coda like a 10,000 horsepower locomotive. Zhukov plays it with just as much energy, but it is more of a lively energy. Matches the spirit of the work better.

[@waltervonstolzing13]

Joseph Villa is amazing in this coda

[@aardigrade]

Pogos 2005 playing is the best :D

[@turtle945]

Medtner Op. 38 no. 8, alla reminincenza, is one of the greatest moments in piano music. The ending to the set is so fucking orgasmic that I think its a crime to listen to or even perform only the sonata reminincenza.

[@kyokusei]

AGREED. bawling my eyes out by the end of the set ;-;

[@liam2741]

@turtle945 You know what you are right! Now that I am looking back on it, I probably should’ve used the Op.38 No.8 alla reminiscenza instead of the No.1 That ending is way too good.

[@rabidbuddha4328]

Being edumacated… never heard of Medtner before.

[@liam2741]

@@rabidbuddha4328 Medtner is great! I recommend him.👍🏻

[@rattywoof5259]

Chopin Sonata #3 - what a laboured, unpleasant performance! The tempo is being dragged around all over the place instead of surging forward and the left hand is just being hammered out. So many better performances you could have picked.

[@DynastieArtistique]

Yes, Seon Cho is a terrible pianist. Hoffman, Cortot, and Lhevinne are SO much better for Chopin (or anything in that matter)

[@rattywoof5259]

@@DynastieArtistique My favourite of this work is Vasary's 1970s performance on DGG - but all of those you mentioned are truly great artistes.

[@ralphiesal]

i agree. too overblown lmfao. i much prefer joao pires.

[@RiccardoM.]

you clearly cant appreciate a passionate interpretation seong is an extraordinary pianist

[@matthewalexander-thepianist]

Great choices!!

[@liam2741]

Thank you! :)

[@mateuscosta787]

Theres something exciting thou overwhelming when reading comments and we get tons of passionate recommendations. We want to listen to it all but we cannot appreciate it all at once. And before we do, another video with recommendations appear. 😌 Music is endless fun I'd say.

[@liam2741]

You are 100% right. There is so much music from so many composers I still need to listen to, it is going to be difficult to appreciate it all at once.

[@DaveRx]

Superlative

[@DavitMinasyan-rn3fv]

you have such a great taste! a bit unfortunate tho that these lists never contain bach

[@liam2741]

Thank you! But yeah Bach is quite difficult to listen to for me, but I am getting there. I am listening to Bach more and more each day and I am starting to enjoy it.

[@duryi6399]

Bach doesnt ussually have a climax, but some of his pieces does so...

[@DavitMinasyan-rn3fv]

@@duryi6399 bach is about voice leading and a forever lasting musical line , so its climax can depend on the pianist and some may even neglect it listen to f minor keyboard concerto , or any of the fugues for that matter, they always have a climatic coda

[@duryi6399]

@@DavitMinasyan-rn3fv thanks for the recomendation, yeah, the codas have a strong climax 😃

[@blacksky492]

I feel like we have similar tastes

[@escuchachopin2856]

Chopin! ✨️🎹🤎😭🤘🏼

[@user-wf4be8ig9b]

Liszt sonetto is too good

[@yeetthebeet]

GOATED INDEED

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

Las cadenzias perfectas.

[@estebanparedes3319]

Totally agree with Scriabin Sonata 4

[@roccoaprano8720]

Chopin's Ballade n.1's CODA is missing🙃

[@escuchachopin2856]

The ending of all Chopin's ballads are majestic 🤎🎹✨️

[@EC1M]

Is a list of the featured pieces available, please?

[@liam2741]

There is a list in the description.

[@Mrncgntu]

Where is Chopin op 48 no 1

[@escuchachopin2856]

I agree, where is it?

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

Lizst Soneto de Petarca. 🎹

[@DynastieArtistique]

W for putting Scriabin 4 at the end. But you forgot the greatest moment in all piano literature which is the buildup to the recapitulation of Feinberg sonata 3.

[@ssbuzeno]

Liszt Sonata D Major Passage

[@nitnutz7650]

You like it loud ;)

[@liam2741]

Yeah 😅

[@danielagentile5355]

Perfectly matches my taste

[@kyokusei]

the medtner sonata op 38 makes me wany to cry 😢

[@liam2741]

I KNOW!!!! It’s legit one of the most beautiful things he wrote😭😭

[@johnsimon8438]

Can't spell Schumann and he is an expert!

[@danielbaggins7341]

Chopin's Barcarolle and Nocturne op. 27 nr 2 climaxes.

[@aaronslens]

All the Chopin ballade codas are great but the 2nd has to be my least favorite. It's still great, but the other three are even better.

[@Dylonely42]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="487">8:07</a>

[@hadrieneverard8121]

What do you think of Pletnev's version of the scriabin sonata ?

[@liam2741]

Pletnevs version is definitely the best one out of them all! I chose Pogorelichs, because of how much he bangs the piano in the coda. He made such a loud expressive sound that I figured it would’ve been a better choice for the video.

[@j.s.42822]

@@liam2741 I will always recommend Berman for the Sonata No. 4. Very nice list, by the way.

[@karstenmok6543]

What about Ashkenazy’s version?

[@dzordzszs]

​@@liam2741Although the audio quality is bad, Feinberg's is definitely my favorite and I recommend it

[@claudioparrella183]

a me oiace Richard Goode

[@jeremyjeffes8603]

Tozer is the best medtner interpreter, change my mind.

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

Este final claro a ratos ,suelta el pedal a tiempo. Está parte bien. ,muy bien sueltas el pedal. Salvaste el final

[@ruddyudder]

s-c-h-u-m-a-n-n

[@paryrar6969]

Recording have chaged a lot they are completely different from original ones

[@imagod4796]

Just a small correction - Shumann is the wrong way to spell his name. Its actually written Schumann.

[@avkoskinenarchive]

No Boulez?

[@dzordzszs]

What Boulez moment

[@avkoskinenarchive]

@@dzordzszs Many from the 2nd piano sonata.

[@omarabuzant3722]

I think this needs parts 2 and 3.. and 4, 5....10 lol too missed goodies

[@liam2741]

I am definitely going to make a part 2 some day! 👍🏻

[@SJ-gy2rf]

not having gaspard de la nuit on here is a hate crime lol

[@liam2741]

Definitely next time! 😅

[@UnaMoscaEnLaPared]

*Schumann

[@azurbtkl3901]

Hmmm you forgot the last page of op.110

[@minhtriphung9373]

Wheres Bach dude?

[@liam2741]

There will definitely be more Bach in the next video. I started listening to more Bach and I am really starting to like him.

[@tarikeld11]

It's "Schumann", not "Shumann" ;)

[@Alix777.]

Choo man

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

Que es este ruido?

[@ksholomitsky]

Balakirev's Islamey: 🗿

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

Pareçe que no sueltas el pedal. a ratos.

[@partituravid]

that Zimmermann Ballade just sounds angry.

[@a360pilot]

“ Classical” they said…

[@liam2741]

What? As a genre most people would consider it to be written between 1600 and 1920. Majority of the music I used was early to late romantic music, including a Beethoven sonata. It still counts as classical music.

[@a360pilot]

@@liam2741 The term Classical is used to refer to music composed around 1700-1800, including Haydn, Mozart, and early Beethoven works, before his departure from the classical style. This is not a pop music matter in which we can discuss genres and say 1600-1920 is classical. Then what is Baroque in your opinion?!!!

[@liam2741]

@@a360pilot I mean yeah I get that. If you want to be precise about it then that is correct. However the way I see it (and the way everyone else sees it) is that baroque music is from 1600-1710; Classical 1730-1820; then romantic is from 1820-1920. That would be the correct classification, but nowadays everyone just refers to it as classical music. Nowadays when people talk about classical music they normally refer to it as a whole (from the baroque all the way to late romantic) they don’t specifically talk about 1700-1810.

[@ratpoison1000]

​@@a360pilotyou are so annoying

[@a360pilot]

@@ratpoison1000 and you might be a peasant with inadequate musical training, but i am not sure if that’s entirely true. You might need time to achieve that.

[@WD_GX]

well, they are nice, but not the best, i really know even better moments in classical piano, and they are solo works, like just listen to Alkan, every piece is majestic, he's just a genius, he's just the genius enigma, he really is an enigma

[@liam2741]

Well yes, they are obviously not THE best but they are just my favorite moments. In the description I stated that it is a subjective ranking. I probably should’ve just titled the video “My Top 10 Favorite Moments” instead :)

[@WD_GX]

@@liam2741 lol, I guess so, I just didn't read the describtion

[@liam2741]

@@WD_GXIt’s fine 👍🏻 Can you give me some good Alkan suggestions? I feel like I should listen to more Alkan.

[@WD_GX]

@@liam2741 literally, every piece is majestic, all of them, but I'm gonna suggest the symphony and concerto for solo piano, receuille de chant, concerti da camera, 3 andante romantique, grande sonate les quatre ages, sonatine, grande fantaisie sur don juan for 2 pianos, 3 morceaux dans Le genres pathetique, scherzi di bravura, l'incendie dans le village voisin, le chemin de fer, le preux, etude WoO, funeral marche on the death of a parrot, marche funebre op. 26, sorry I guess I suggested a lot lol, there are even more interesting pieces by him but I think that's enough for now, most of his pieces a solo piano works edit: sorry again because this's so much

[@WD_GX]

If I saw this video 1 year ago, I would've agreed with you, but after listning to Alkan, my mind was blown away, some of his pieces might be some of the hardest piano pieces to play so most pianist don't dare to play his pieces unlike me lol, i think of him just like mozart or even more genius than mozart was back in his days

[@alessandropelizzoli6613]

Nice Choice in pieces but ...the interpretations are quite terrible... The Top moments of a Butcher.

[@liam2741]

Oh really? Which ones do you think are bad?

[@Gabe-zm9vh]

@@liam2741has to be a troll

[@stanx0176]

Pretty bad choices tbh

[@liam2741]

Can you give me some other better suggestions then?

[@WilsonJacobs-gu3ud]

Go make your own video.