6th impression (1978) of book first published in 1964. From Mozarts fabulous legato thatflowed like oil, to Beethovens oceanlike surge, from Clara Schumanns touchsharp as a pencil sketchto Rubinsteins volcanic and sensual playing, The Great Pianists brings to life the brilliant, stylish, and sometimes eccentric personalities, methods, and technical peculiarities of historys greatest pianists. Pulitzer Prizewinning critic and author Harold C. Schonberg presents vivid accounts of the artistsperformances, styles, and even their personal lives and quirky characteristicssuch as Mozarts intense competition with Clementi, Lizsts magnetic effect on women (when he played, ladies flung their jewels on stage), and Gottschalks persistent nail-biting, which left the keys covered with blood. Including profiles of Horowitz and Van Cliburn, among others, and chapters detailing the playing and careers of such modern pianists as de Larrocha, Ashkenazy, Gilels, Gould, Brendel, Bolet,