Vladimir Horowitz - The Last Romantic

Pioneer Classics: PC-10534D (DVD)

Note: This video is something of a mix of a documentary and a home recital. Horowitz fools around at the piano every now and then in between the actual programmed numbers, improvising and playing small extracts from various works. Below are only the works which Horowitz plays in completition.

Johann Sebastian Bach/Ferruccio Busoni
Chorale Prelude: Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sonata in C major, K.330

Frederic Chopin
Mazurka in A minor, Op.17 No.4
Scherzo No.1 in B minor, Op.20

Franz Schubert
Impromptu in A-flat major, Op.90 No.4

Franz Liszt
Consolation No.3 in D-flat major

Robert Schumann
Novellette in F major, Op.21 No.1

Sergei Rachmaninoff
Prelude in G-sharp minor, Op.32 No.12

Alexander Scriabin
Etude in C-sharp minor, Op.2 No.1

Frederic Chopin
Polonaise in A-flat major, Op.53

Moritz Moszkowski
Etude in F major, Op.72 No.6

Horowitz Up-Close and Personal

In 1983, Vladimir Horowitz retired from the concert stage following a series of disastrous recitals. Rumors about his health from Alzheimer's disease to cancer swept through the music world, and it was generally felt that he would never play again. As it turned out, Horowitz had been taking anti-depressant medication which impaired his memory and coordination. Once the cause of his problems was revealed, he stopped taking the medication cold-turkey and, after battling the trials of withdrawal, eventually returned to normal. Early in 1985, Horowitz told his manager, Peter Gelb, that he wanted to resume musical activity, but didn't yet feel up to the task of public recitals. The documentary contained on this DVD was Horowitz' way of easing into the rigors of concertizing.

This film shows Horowitz trying out pianos in Steinway's famous basement, discussing his life, and performing in his elegantly appointed New York townhouse. Wanda Toscanini Horowitz is ever present, recalling how she lived under the shadow of famous musicians (her father was Arturo Toscanini) and encouraging her husband in his reaquaintance with the piano.

Horowitz, 81 years young at the time, plays very well here--although his performance is not quite on the same level it would be one year later at his legendary Moscow recital (also available on DVD). The Bach-Busoni Chorale, Mozart Sonata, and Schumann Novelette reveal the playing of a grand master in sovereign command of his resources. It must be admitted however, some of the more bravura pieces do not match his best playing from earlier years. At one point, Wanda scolds him for neglecting to practice the Schumann Novelette. Horowitz reluctantly waddles to the piano, tries a few passages, and it's obvious his memory of the piece is sketchy. After reading the piece from the printed music, he plays the Novelette as if he has known it his entire life!

The hand held camera work is often too close and shaky--ala Blair Witch Project--and becomes a distraction at times. In a reversal of the norm, the DVD transfer is visually not quite up to the level of my LaserDisc, but is an improvement over the VHS version. Portions of the image look compressed and grainy. No complaints about the sound. The sonic image is clean and well focused, the dynamic range spectacular.

This is a must for all Horowitz fans and those who miss the Golden Age of Pianism.

© Hank Drake

This page is part of The Vladimir Horowitz Website
http://w1.854.telia.com/~u85420275/index.htm