horowitz liszt sonata live - ann arbor 1977 pt 1 - restored sound

[Matthewfawr]

The darker passages tend to put Darth Vader's March in the shade a bit!

[abbeliszt]

yes, quite a few wrong notes - but come on, what a great performance. I would kill to have witnessed it myself. Thanks for sharing. To me, nobody plays this sonata better than him, the studio recording is amazing. This life version is fantastic also, not as perfect as the studio version, but more "now".

[gerardbedecarter]

This is how Liszt would have played the second subject [the lyrical transformation of the hammer blow motif] {imho}].

[gerardbedecarter]

@gerardbedecarter .... oops .... the third subject!

[martinadler73]

@gerardbedecarter

Dear Gerard, I believe this, too. Not only the pp/ppp changes in bars 161-164 as reported by Stradal, but the general freedom of rhythm in lyrical passages and the sublime touch in this very part - all Liszt.

[chad410]

quite a lot of wrong notes and very bangy

[RadocziG]

Diabolique... The best interpretation!

[Democratura]

what a mess!

[kasyapa]

Democratura - please do tell us more.

[rumpwrestler]

I remember hearing him play this in Chicago back in 1977. Always amazing!

[kasyapa]

rumpwrestler - what an honor to hear him play that! did you see the "60 mins" crew there - orchestra hall, yes? i'm curious if you have any memories of the recital, particularly of horowitz's behavior, that should be preserved?

[MrZnoo]

The rendition of the b minor sonata is great.And this might just be one of the best Horowitz channels on you tube

H said in an interview that he regrets to have never played the beethoven liszt symphonies for public.Just imagine what he could have done with them...

RIP Maestro

[kasyapa]

MrZnoo - there is so much i wonder about - the pieces unplayed. all the music he had in him. and we will never know!

[uhartchristian]

Ann Arbor seems to be an interesting town with lots of students. Maybe this concentration of intelligence did create a favorite climate for the concerts there. Carnegie Hall and Ann Arbor were important events in the Life of Horowitz.

[Bobby3960]

What Steinway he has ! So powerful !

[kasyapa]

it is transcendental. in so many ways. i played that same piano in 1991 and 2005, and the first time it was a magnificent color-creating piano. the second time it was a shocking ruin for the most part, but still with a unique voice.

[Liebromeistal]

How do you feel this compares to his 1976 live recording on the "Horowitz Plays Liszt" CD?

[kasyapa]

there is no comparison. the official recording is terrible. (i've recently heard it was recorded not live, but as a run-through in the studio.)

[paulostroff99]

This is one of the best performances of this great concerto. Ranks at the very top with Martha Argerich and Sviataslav Richter.

[kasyapa]

horowitz was in a rare mood of total technical abandon and conceptual mastery for this performance. (something about ann arbor brought out his best - listen to his rach. concerto #3 from 1978 recorded in ann arbor on this channel!)