Great Women Pianists of the Twentieth Century

I am very interested in learning more about the great women pianists of the twentieth century. I’ve listed five of my favorites and some information about them. I enjoy listening to these women because their playing is truly individual and personal. I also enjoy their sense of authority and lyricism. Some of their performances can be heard on YouTube.

Guiomar Novaes – (1895-1979), Brazilian, studied with Isidor Philipp. She recorded the complete Chopin Etudes and Nocturnes.

Jeanne-Marie Darré – (1905-1999), French, studied with Philipp and Marguerite Long. She played the five Saint-Saëns Concerti for her graduation from the Paris Conservatoire.

Annie Fischer – (1914-1995), Hungarian, studied with Ernő Dohnányi. She recorded the complete Beethoven Sonatas.

Moura Lympany – (1916-2005), English, studied with Mathilde Verne and Tobias Matthay. She was the first pianist to record the complete Rachmaninoff Preludes.

Alicia de Larrocha – (1923-2009), Spanish, studied with Frank Marshall. She recorded a huge chunk of the Spanish piano repertoire, including works by Albéniz, Granados, Falla, Turina, and Mompou.