His Paganini Etude No 3 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_campanella) is astonishing! You can see Valentina Lisitsa play it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY_eIIFqNxg) and wonder how is this thing even playable.
if only to get a fair view as many find Valentina Lisitsa.. questionable.
In any case I feel like people either really like or dislike her. My piano teacher absolutely hates her playing, while she's my friend's favorite pianist.
Another piece I'd recommend is also Liszt's Mephisto Waltz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9JbNgPsAkg
Ogdon's Campanella: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6aLKPtF6uc Ogdon's B minor sonata, IMO the magnum opus of Liszt's life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q1tNCVGpt0&t=6m Richter's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc4hJtKm278 Argerich's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n04GkRTC_Lo Brendel's Deuxieme Annee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-XjrjzXjjA&list=PL9D990D86C...
And for a totally different take on the latter, also listen to Bolet (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVxEG12-1Ps) and Lipatti (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzn2fkUdUnI).
My general problem with many famous pianists is they get too much into the flash - at certain moments you will hear a wall of sound as they throw clarity and rhythmic pulse out the window. But her interpretation of La Campanella seemed to have less of that than Kissin's.
My impression is that people who weren't really into classical music before listening to her are more likely to like her, whereas people who have followed classical music for a long time are less likely to. I suspect it has something to do with how they consider certain music should be played. As far as I know, she was relatively unknown until she posted some videos on YouTube.
Personally I'm not a big fan of her but I don't dislike her; she certain is a much better player than I am and I have no issue listening to her playing. My teacher absolutely abhors her playing though..
I just also have to say that one of my favorite performers and one of my greatest inspirations is Georges Cziffra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Cziffra). His performance of Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L0Rncqx1yQ) is one of the greatest performances I have ever heard.
Who?