Maurizio Pollini

There's a lot of piano talent in town this week, to be sure. Jeremy Denk. Vicky Chow. Lang Lang. But if we had to prioritize just one recitalist to see, we'd go with the Italian institution. Even when he plays familiar repertoire—as Pollini will on this Oct 19 program of Schumann and Chopin—the 72-year-old's famous interpretive edge can assert itself, with thrilling results. (Though someday he's going to play an all-Stockhausen gig in New York, right? He has to.)