Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Essentials

An infrequent presence in the recording studio, and prone to concert cancellations while on tour, this mercurial but highly praised Italian pianist was most at home in the works of Beethoven, Scarlatti, Mozart and Brahms. (He also recorded pieces by Debussy and Chopin for the Deutsche Grammophon label.) His rigorous practice methods and infallible technique were always a topic of conversation, even by those critics who accused the pianist's playing of lacking some intangible, human dimensions. As a teacher, he helped fashion the talents of such notable soloists as Martha Argerich and Maurizio Pollini—pianists whose intensity can be traced back to the example set by Michelangeli.