Search - Vladimir Horowitz :: Piano Masterworks (1903-1989) [Germany]

Horowitz mixed and matched

postupano | Arlington VA | 02/03/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I won't comment in detail on interpretive or sonic nuances since there are others far more qualified to do so and I suspect that those most interested in this set are already familiar with many of these particular Horowitz recordings. What I can do is clarify the documentation a bit; the recording dates range from 1930 to 1947. The repertoire on this set has been issued on various labels: roughly speaking, the first three discs combine material also found on "Horowitz Solo Recordings 1928-36," (Pearl) "Vladimir Horowitz HMV Recordings 1930-51," (EMI) "Horowitz Private Collection v.2," (BMG), and "The Horowitz Collection--Schubert,Mozart," (BMG). The Kabalevsky, Barber, and Mendelssohn look to be pretty rare in comparison to the Chopin and Schumann, so those alone may be worth the modest price just in terms of repertoire. The fourth disc features the 1941 Tchaikovsky 1st concerto with Toscanini and Horowitz's celebrated first recording of the Rachmaninov 3rd concerto from 1930.

To clarify the track listings:

Disc 1-- Beethoven:32 Variations WoO80, Mozart:Sonata K331:Rondo alla Turca,Sonata K332 complete, Schumann: Arabesque, Toccata, Traumeswirren

Disc 2: Mendelssohn: Variations Serieuses

Chopin: Nocturne Op.72/1; Mazurkas Op.7/3, Op.41/1, Op.50/3; Scherzo No.4,Op.54; Etudes-Op.10 nos.4,5,8; Op25/3

Liszt: Funerailles

Disc 3: Prokofiev, Toccata

Poulenc: Pastourelle, Toccata

Stravinsky: Petrushka, Danse Russe

Barber: Excursions nos.1,2,4

Kabalevsky: Sonata no.2; Preludes Op.38 nos.1,3,8,10,16,17,22,24

Disc 4:

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto 1 (Toscanini/NBC SO, rec.1941)

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto 3 (Albert Coates/London SO, rec.1930)



Bottom line: Horowitz collectors will probably duplicate some things they already have, but there's a lot of music here from a legendary pianist for very little money."