Krystian Zimerman Essentials

This pianist's stark and forceful accounts of warhorse pieces by Liszt and Chopin have kicked up intense passions among classical aficionados—even as the technical precision of his work is unanimously hailed. Zimerman's mercurial verve is refreshing. He's been a favorite of some visionary conductors, too, performing with Leonard Bernstein (in Stravinsky), Pierre Boulez (in Ravel), and Sir Simon Rattle, in the Lutoslawski piano concerto (which the composer dedicated to Zimerman).