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Rarely find fault with VH. Own only three videos of his. Two of them, 'The Last Romantic' and 'Horowitz In Moscow,' are phenomenal. The former, an intimate recital with music filmed in his NY apartment, with barbed exchanges with his wife, the daughter of legendary conductor Arturo Toscanini. The latter recital, particularly, is wrapped in emotion and nostalgia, as it took place upon his return to Russia after six (6) decades of self-exile. This programme and performance are exceptional for anyone present at the hall at the time (or not), to acknowledge his supreme mastery in the music of Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, Moritz Moszkowski, Mozart, and Rachmaninov. I recall both TV broadcasts from c. 1986, the former pre-taped and the latter one live, both from CBS with Charles Kuralt as presenter, as I recall. Don't know that there is a more memorable such event around, from before or after.
The third video, 'Horowitz Plays Mozart,' proves that, at least where the concerts for the piano were concerned, Mozart and Horowitz were not compatible, and that Carlo Maria Giulini was not the ideal conductor either for the concerts of Mozart (same results were apparent with Rudolf Serkin) and shared no rapport with the pianist, either.
On Cd, there is an extraordinary Alexander Scriabin recital, as is the case with choice Scarlatti sonatas on the piano. There is more great Scarlatti (along with Schubert, Schumann, Liszt and Scriabin) in 'The Studio Recordings' as there is perfection for Haydn, Liszt, Wagner and Chopin in 'The Last Recording.' His recitals at Carnegie Hall are historic, as the imperfect sound is of no consequence. Much controversy regarding his performance of the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.3 under conductor Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, which some of us love despite what others describe as close to being his worst recording, q.v.: "His playing became so distorted and exagerated that the music doesn't speak for itself any longer. This performance is a giant ego trip for the pianist as Ormandy tries his best to stay out of the way." Am not one to dispute such claims from music lovers better versed in Rachmaninov but for them, the Horowitz monoaural version under Fritz Reiner (RCA, 1951) is less objectionable. Must thank Ridge for rediscovering my thoughts regarding this favorite artist. |
