Vladimir Horowitz

[mbriant]

I'd like to get a few CD recordings of his. Can anyone recommend anything in particular?

 

[revan]

Try this -

Vladimir Horowitz: The Historic Return Carnegie Hall 1965 Sony Classical 53461


This guy is amazing.

R-

 

[Old Pa]

Funny you should ask, I was just spending the morning reviewing my Horowitz collection. His career divides very much into early (awesome, firey technique), middle (maturing), and late (more paced and voiced). Made technically good recordings during all periods. Worked both as a soloist and with orchestra. Recorded both in concert and in the studio. If you can be more specific, I can be more specific.

 

[mbriant]

Quote:

If you can be more specific, I can be more specific.

Since my interest in Horowitz is more nostalgic than a cultural awakening ( although I'm hoping for that), I guess I'm looking for a couple of suggestions of well recorded material on CD.

In 1979 I was 25 years old and held a part-time job as a chauffeur at a Toronto livery service. I must confess I had no appreciation or knowledge of classical music at the time, (still don't) so had absolutely no idea who Vladimir Horowitz was when I met him and his young assistant, both impeccably dressed, at their Toronto hotel. I was to drive them to Massey Hall, wait for them, then drive them back. I assumed they were attending a concert. Despite his antique tuxedo and matching cape, (who wears a cape?) it wasn't until I dropped them off at Massey Hall that I realized he was the performer.

He invited me to join them inside, but I chose to stay with the limo so I could smoke and listen to rock & roll on the radio while Mr. Horowitz performed solo to a full house. I do remember hearing the applause, especially the encore applause....quite loudly...even from in the car. I could tell by the smiles and animated discussion of the exiting audience that these people loved Vladimir Horowitz, whoever he was.

He and his assistant came out soon after the crowd dispersed, and I drove them back to the hotel. From what I recall, little or nothing was said by anyone. Almost like nothing had happened. You'd have no idea the man had just received a massive standing ovation at Massey Hall. I remember thinking to myself, "how cool and calm this guy is". As they were leaving the car, he appologized to me for not having any cash with him and therefore not being able to give me a tip. He seemed genuinely embarrassed about it. I explained that a tip was not necessary, and in fact, was already included as part of the limo fees. He wasn't satisfied with that however, and said he'd mail a tip to me. Since he didn't ask for my address, I didn't think for a moment he actually would.

About two weeks later, the owner of the livery service hands me an envelope with a short note from Mr. Horowitz and the largest cash tip I ever received during my short limo driving career. I don't remember the exact amount of the tip, and although the amount was a definate highlight, I was much more overwhelmed that this man had actually kept his word. Despite having just performed, at his advanced age, to a full house at Massey Hall, he was genuinely concerned about me, the limo driver. He was a true gentleman.

I've never forgotten his act of kindness, nor the lessons in humility and being true to your word he taught me. I've been reading about him on the internet for the past day and have discovered he was even more popular than I had imagined. The fact he played the White House 2 or 3 times, as well as Toronto's Massey Hall as far back as 1930 ( 49 years before I drove him there in '79) makes his act of kindness towards me even more powerful. I'm really looking to purchase some of his music to remember him by.

 

[Old Pa]

No matter how you slice it, that's a very special memory, mbriant. Horowitz was always a real gentleman as well as a consummate artist. It was around the time you speak of that Horowitz left his long relationship with RCA to sign with DG. Three well-regarded recordings from that time period in chronological order are:

Horowitz Golden Jubilee Concert with Eugene Ormandy and the New York Philharmonic - "Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3" (RCD 12633)

Horowitz - "Horowitz" (DG 419 045-2) program featured in the film "Vladimir Horowitz - The Last Romantic"

Vladimir Horowitz, "The Studio Recordings - New York 1985" (DG D-125056)

I believe all three of these are still currently available and all are miked to sound great on headphones.

BTW I just got done having a good giggle over Horowitz getting standing ovations for his standard program in Massey Hall while you were out in the limo doing your own rendition of Wayne's World to Queen's "We Will Rock You".

 

[Gergor]

Quote:

Originally posted by mbriant About two weeks later, the owner of the livery service hands me an envelope with a short note from Mr. Horowitz and the largest cash tip I ever received during my short limo driving career.

I hope you still have the note he left you, that'd be a great momento to remember him by...

 

[Zanth]

If you are going to get any Horowitz album...then you MUST get Horowitz in Moscow. DG 419-499-2.

As you probably already know...he left Russia at a very early age (1925 aged 22) and only returned in 1986 to perform this final concert at age 82.


You will at the very least have a slight mist forming in your eyes during your first listen.

 

[dparrish]

Well,

Horowitz was nothing short of the most popular pianist of the 20th century. I'm only a few years younger than you, mbriant, and Horowitz was something of an idol to me (I'm a pianist/music teacher). Horowitz defied the rules of proper hand placement/technique, yet his technique was able to produce the most beautiful singing tone from the piano (not to mention dazzling, even into his later years).

I will never forget the live broadcast of his triumphant return to Moscow. It really WAS an event watched by music lovers around the world, of which I was one.

By the way, the Horowitz Golden Jubilee Concert with Eugene Ormandy and the New York Philharmonic - "Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3" (RCD 12633), IS still in print, and there is a remastered version (09026-63681-2, BMG Classics High Performance), which is remastered in 24/96. This performance of argueably the greatest and most difficult piano concerto ever written is played with electrically-charged emotion. You can sense the emotion of the audience (it was recorded live). This recording, along with the aforementioned Last Concert at Moscow, should give you a very good idea about just how beloved this man's music-making was (and still is).

 

[mbriant]

Quote:

I hope you still have the note he left you, that'd be a great momento to remember him by...

Unfortunately I don't. Horowitz's tip went straight in my pocket and the note and envelope straight into the garbage. Like I said, I had no idea who he was at the time. I drove quite a few celebrities and even some royalty but prided myself on being cool, and refrained from treating them like celebrities. On only 2 occassions did I ask for an autograph.... Andy Warhol and Aretha Franklin. The prince and princess of Sweden gave me a gold lapel pin with their royal emblem on it, but I never asked for that.

I've managed to go Horowitz crazy on E-Bay and have "won" two DVDs...."The Last Romantic" and "Horowitz in Moscow".

I also found a guy selling 9 CDs of Horowitz as well.
NOS, made in 1990, and still factory shrinkwrapped in the old foot tall cardboard display cartons.......for only $5.00 each !!!

- Beethoven sonatas-Moonlight,Waldstein and Appassionata

- Chopin Vol.2

- Tchaikowsky concerto #1 (1943 live at Carnegie Hall with Toscanini) and Beethoven Emperor with Fritz Reiner

- Tchaikowsky #1 with Bruno Walter (Apr.11,1948) and brahms #1 also with Fritz Reiner (Feb.20,1036)

- Horowitz Encores

- Horowitz, Brahms,

- Horowitz, Mozart

- Horowitz, Tchaikowsky

- Horowitz, Prokofiev

I was planning on buying only 2 or 3 titles from the suggestions you all have supplied, but 9 NOS discs for $45 was too hard to resist.

I'm also printing out this thread and will keep my eye out for the specific recordings you Horowitz fans have recommended.

Thanks for the info and suggestions!

 

[mbriant]

Quote:

BTW I just got done having a good giggle over Horowitz getting standing ovations for his standard program in Massey Hall while you were out in the limo doing your own rendition of Wayne's World to Queen's "We Will Rock You".

I know, I know. It's beyond pathetic.

 

[daycart1]

Quote:

Originally posted by mbriant I've managed to go Horowitz crazy on E-Bay and have "won" two DVDs...."The Last Romantic" and "Horowitz in Moscow". I was planning on buying only 2 or 3 titles from the suggestions you all have supplied, but 9 NOS discs for $45 was too hard to resist.

Mbriant, that is the most amazing story I've read on Head-Fi-----well, top 5 at least!

You are all set for music now. I was going to reco the DVD of Horowitz in Moscow--VERY affecting. There is one part that is perhaps the most moving performance I've ever seen on video: it is seeing this frail guy, almost 90 years old slamming out the Scriabin Dm Etude.
Opinions vary on Horowitz's artistry (as opposed to his technique), but it would be hard to deny that he OWNED Scriabin.
See whether your 9 CD collection includes a performance of his "Vers la Flamme" (Toward the Flame). Staggering.

 

[Audio Redneck]

Quote:

Originally posted by Old Pa Horowitz Golden Jubilee Concert with Eugene Ormandy and the New York Philharmonic - "Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3" (RCD 12633)

I just love this forum

Quote:

BTW I just got done having a good giggle over Horowitz getting standing ovations for his standard program in Massey Hall while you were out in the limo doing your own rendition of Wayne's World to Queen's "We Will Rock You".

Except it was probably something more along the lines of Roxie Music

 

[Luvya]

Quote:

Originally posted by daycart1 Mbriant, that is the most amazing story I've read on Head-Fi-----well, top 5 at least! You are all set for music now. I was going to reco the DVD of Horowitz in Moscow--VERY affecting. There is one part that is perhaps the most moving performance I've ever seen on video: it is seeing this frail guy, almost 90 years old slamming out the Scriabin Dm Etude. Opinions vary on Horowitz's artistry (as opposed to his technique), but it would be hard to deny that he OWNED Scriabin. See whether your 9 CD collection includes a performance of his "Vers la Flamme" (Toward the Flame). Staggering.

Agree!!! The Dm Etude by Scriabin in this album is just.....AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RECOMMENDED TO THE HIGHEST ORDER!!!!

 

[AdamP88]

Quote:

Originally posted by daycart1 Mbriant, that is the most amazing story I've read on Head-Fi-----well, top 5 at least! You are all set for music now. I was going to reco the DVD of Horowitz in Moscow--VERY affecting. There is one part that is perhaps the most moving performance I've ever seen on video: it is seeing this frail guy, almost 90 years old slamming out the Scriabin Dm Etude. Opinions vary on Horowitz's artistry (as opposed to his technique), but it would be hard to deny that he OWNED Scriabin.

I definitely agree here. Although he ain't no slouch with Rachmaninoff either.

 

[jude]

mbriant,

As someone who very much appreciates Mr. Horowitz virtuosity and recordings (I never saw him live), your story of your experience with him was easily one of my favorite posts so far on Head-Fi (or on any forum).

That you threw away a handwritten note from him means we can't be friends anymore.