Horowitz in London (CD)

Horowitz in London

RCA Victor: 09026 61414 2

Anonymous
1. God Save the Queen

Frederic Chopin
2. Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op.61
3. Ballade No.1 in G minor, Op.23

Robert Schumann
4-16. Kinderszenen, Op.15

Alexander Scriabin
17. Etude in D-sharp minor, Op.8 No.12

Not Horowitz' Best Work

Vladimir Horowitz was in ill health and was heavily medicated when this recital was taped in May of 1982. Comparison with the videotape of the concert reveals that large portions of the recital have been edited for the CD.

As Prince Charles was in attendance, Horowitz begins with "God Save the Queen" which brings murmured amusement from the audience.

Chopin's Polonaise-Fantasie was a Horowitz specialty for many years. He was playing this piece as far back as the 1920s, when few pianists dared to touch such a structurally complex work. His best recording of this piece remains the 1966 version taped lived in Carnegie Hall. This can be found on Volume 3 of Sony's complete Horowitz issue. This 1982 version is among the most mannered playing Horowitz ever approved for commercial release. The phrasing and metric pulse sag, and the piece fails to cohere.

Chopin's Ballade in g minor was a piece Horowitz played constantly. Again, the best version of this work can be found elsewhere, including Volumes 3 (1965) and 4 (1968) of the Sony set. The aforementioned problems are also in evidence here. In addition, Horowitz' playing is technically sub-par, with an awkward coda that sounds banged.

Schumann's Kinderszenen was performed in honor of the impending birth of Prince William. The playing is technically up to snuff here. But musically, the phrasing and drawn out ritardandos border on the bizarre. The piece ends up sounding fragmented and incomprehensible. Horowitz returned to this work during the 1987 season, and the live recording from Vienna is his best achievement in this piece. It can be found on the DG label.

Horowitz saved his best playing for last and his encore, Scriabin's d-sharp minor Etude resurrects the "divine madness" that was part of his allure.

The sound on this disc is metallic and clattery, reflecting the acoustics of London's Royal Festival Hall. Recommended for die-hard Horowitz fans only.

© Hank Drake

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