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Friday, October 18, 2019

10/18/19 Horowitz Plays Schubert

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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