James Rhodes Essentials

This wunderkind pianist blasts apart the conventional wisdom about classical virtuosos: He built his imposing technique without any formal training, dresses like a proper post-punk, and speaks openly about his personal struggles. And he's also an original technician, in the manner of Glenn Gould. (Rhodes even titled an album Now Would All Freudians Please Stand Aside, after a Gould quote.) Whether charging through Bach or using rubato to meditate on Chopin, this British talent offers interpretive inspiration and pianistic prowess at every turn.