I suppose discussion would benefit from cited sources.

I found a paper which cites a 1983 book on Clara Schumann who played Beethoven's Appassionata from memory: www.jstor.org/stable/20789...

This one apparently run by BBC only names Liszt: www.classical-music.com/features/sci...

Interesting.

You mentioned Franz Liszt. I was taught he set that trend for pianists, so then every pianist after him basically was required to memorize and thus set the skill bar higher.

Prior, composers were allowed to sit at the piano/harpsichord with their compositions as they didn't have time to memorize.

Maybe people looked down at other musicians who couldn't memorize in order to feel better about themselves.

I think hyper-competitiveness peaked 40+ years ago (read Nothing But the Best Juilliard)

Similarly today, internet/gossip circles revolve around looking down at something/someone.

Someone recorded Emanuel Ax's encore:
Chopin Nocturne Op. 27 No. 1

This concert was the start of his tour for Mozart Piano Concerto K. 503 with:
1. LA Phil
2. NHK Symphony Orchestra (just concluded)

Some gamers may recognize this music from World of Warcraft.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYGL...