“Who are pianists that you think more people should know about?”

Nigel Rogers Yes! Horowitz greatly admired Friedman and Friedman's way with the Mazurkas clearly influenced Horowitz.

Nigel Rogers Jeremy Denk talks about Friedman in his book, Every Good Boy Does Fine--which is a terrific book, by the way. Denk's exuberant love for music is completely infectious. (If only one could 'catch' talent and insight as easily as a virus....)

Vicky Brandt Yes I loved the Denk book and his whole approach which has so much insight into the music and its structure and as you say showing where the music leads (I felt the same thing in listening to Bernstein talking about structure). His videos where he plays and analyses some of his favourite preludes and fugues from WTC throw light at a detailed level just how extraordinary each piece is, and his playing dances exuberantly. Perhaps he's a pianist more should listen to, too, although (speaking from UK) I don't know how well known he is in the States now. https://www.youtube.com/live/7nMPRuvVi20?si=3jKszCFxcZQoioxn

Nigel Rogers I think Denk is better known in the US for being an engaging writer and for having won a MacArthur 'genius' grant. He seems to be like Moravec and Sebok in caring more about music itself than about fame (which I applaud). And not all his performances have been flawless--there's a recording of his recital of Bach partitas at Oxford in autumn 2023 in which he flubs the final gigue, which is something you wouldn't really see Sokolov or such doing. Yet I treasure his performances for the way I see him thinking through the music, for his imaginative resources, and his sheer joy in beauty. I wish that our recording culture hadn't made it so difficult for audiences to realize just how rare and hard-won perfection [sic] is...

Nigel Rogers I think a problem of the recording culture is that it has made surface perfection an obligatory requirement which has led to few daring to be more adventurous or exploratory of the music.. I think that's what I meant when I wrote that however good one thinks Friedman is, one could never 'get away with' trying to play like him (even if one could manage it!) nowadays.

Nigel Rogers 

Friedman's Chopin Nocturne in E flat Op. 55 No. 2 is looked upon by some as one of the greatest piano recordings ever.  He performed prodigiously on Australian radio later in life, and in an incredible feat of barbarism most of the platters on which those performances were preserved were melted down and used in street pavement...