VLADIMIR
HOROWITZ
Unreleased
Live Recordings 1966-1983
Sony
Classical 88843054582 (50 CDs)
*****
It has been 26 years since the death of
Russian-American pianist Vladimir Horowitz (1903-1989), yet his legend
resonates strongly among those who were fortunate to have experienced him live
in concert, and those who can only dream.
This massive box-set brings to the
public unedited recordings by Columbia Masterworks and RCA Victor of concerts
which have never been previously released in full. These include 25 solo
recitals and a sizzling 1978 performance of Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto with the New York Philharmonic led by Zubin
Mehta (previously only available on DVD). However its contents may only satisfy
diehards who must hear every note he played.
Although his repertoire was vast, he only
showcased a small segment and had distinct preferences. There are 7
performances of Beethoven's Sonata No.28
in A major (Op.101) alone, which makes for fascinating comparisons. His
highly-strung performances of the Second
Sonatas by Chopin and Rachmaninov should not be missed for their sheer
voltage alone. His love for Schumann was incomparable, as the performances of
the Concerto Without Orchestra, Kreisleriana and Humoreske attest.
Appearing for the first time are two readings of Carnaval from recitals in 1983, by the
time his playing had become clearly ragged, erratic and fragmented. The
contrast between his peaks and troughs is sometimes distressing to behold. This
lavish set tips the scales at almost 2 kilograms, but is well worth its weight
in gold.
ITZHAK
PERLMAN
PLAYS
FRITZ KREISLER
Itzhak
Perlman, Violin
Samuel
Sanders, Piano
Warner
Classics (3CDs) / *****
Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) was best known
for his Viennese waltz miniatures for violin like Liebesfreud, Liebesleid
and Schön Rosmarin, which are all
included in this slim-line 3-disc album from Warner Classics' Itzhak Perlman
retrospective. Kreisler also wrote plenty of transcriptions of other composers'
music, from songs like the traditional Irish tune Londonderry Air to Lehar's Serenade
from Frasquita, showpieces by
Paganini and Tartini (Devil's Trill
Sonata) and dances galore with Dvorak, Brahms and de Falla among them.
More controversially, he had passed off
several original compositions in the antique style as long-lost works of
long-dead Baroque composers like Couperin, Boccherini and Dittersdorf but
eventually owned up to the deception. These are charming works which find
veteran American fiddler Itzhak Perlman in the best mood for delightful
bonbons. His ever-sweet tone, fulsome yet never cloying, is ideally suited to
this evergreen repertoire and favourite encores. Recorded during the mid-1970s,
these performances will never lose their shine.
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