Horowitz - Schubert Impromptu #3
I had to honor of seeing Vladimir Horowitz at Boston Symphony Hall in
1975. Many people consider him to be one of the greatest pianists that
ever lived. This video from 1987 (2 years before he died) at his
penultimate public recital is stunning in its focus and apparent
simplicity, but a careful listening reveals intricacies that are
detailed and carefully crafted.
Watch the video, and it seems like nothing moves except his fingers.
Horowitz's
hand position was unusual in that the palm was often below the level of
the key surface. He frequently played chords with straight fingers, and
the little finger of his right hand was often curled up until it needed
to play a note. For all the excitement of his playing, Horowitz rarely
raised his hands higher than the piano's fallboard. His body was
immobile, and his face seldom reflected anything other than intense
concentration.
Horowitz
preferred to perform on Sunday afternoons, as he felt audiences were
better rested and more attentive than on weekday evenings. Listen to
this today, and again on Sunday, in honor of his death, 30 years ago
(November 5, 1989)
https://youtu.be/FxhbAGwEYGQ
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