Vladimir Horowitz - Ballade No. 1, Op. 23 In G Minor

[douglasjfm]

Caraca velho! eu aqui querendo escutar Chopin me, e aparece uma propaganda da porcaria dum carro com a zuada "ahh se eu te pego, ah! ah! se eu te pego.". pow vei

[AlexzuquiTurcios]

Why the hell is there a video of bootyshaking in a video of Horowitz? This really pisses me off!!!

[sundew59]

he was the greatest pianist ever and still many years after his dead .. many people watch him play .. and nobody perform like him . watch him >> on youtube .. YOUReyanto

[aardvaark069]

strange but I think this is atrocious and fabulous at the same time.

[JimMorrisonAbrams]

@aardvaark069 Yeah Horowitz was a very weird individual when it came to accuracy of the piece. He was even quoted saying, “I must tell you I take terrible risks. Because my playing is very clear, when I make a mistake you hear it. If you want me to play only the notes without any specific dynamics, I will never make one mistake. Never be afraid to dare." I tell people this about myself all the time as well, it's so diminishing to watch a pianist who tries to cover up his/her mistakes.

[giovinis]

com certeza essa obra impressiona qualquer um, o geito como e tocada, e sua exentricidade sao de arrepiar !

[thisismeplusyou]

I really think Horowitz's Presto con fuoco section sounds cool. However, I don't think that it is really true to how Chopin intended. His interpretation is a bit too light to really be "with fire", and he also pedals very little, which is not indicated by Chopin. Horowitz often did that; play in in an extremely unique manner, which while amazing, was not always true to the way it is written (not saying that is good or bad).

[ykhappy]

He's wonderful!! Thanks for uploading!!!

[AmericanCars101]

what year was this concert or recording?

[mltube]

Ha-ha-ha! He is playing a fantasy (or better say - a parody) on a theme of the First Ballade. Absolutely ridiculous!

[ctimothyw]

As technically brilliant and 'imaginative' as horowitz's interpretation may be, I don't feel he allows the music to flow in the same way as some other pianists manage to. My impression is that he was rather focussed on how to make his interpretation unique, and rather than making it more dramatic his rapid alternations between fast and slow, loud and soft, make it eccentric more than anything else.

[dccheung678]

Thx for the upload. Despite the vast dissimilarities between rubinstein and Zimmerman, you must accept that Horowitz's interpretation brings a fresh air to this masterpiece. Sure, one can say a certain passage should be played this way or that. But by doing so u lost your own interpretation of the music. Afterall, if u only play the way you are instructed, then you are no more than a tape player. Ladies and gentleman, this is ART of a genius.

[Mike1614b]

Horowitz was never known for having all the notes perfect, but then, I dont care. He's my fav for some of the Chopin pieces, esp the Mazurkas and Scherzos.

[FlashyCat2008]

@Mike1614b

What do you care about. Notes to a musician are like nails and a hammer for a carpenter. Would you say, I don't care if the builders got my house's frame just right?

There too many pianists that get the notes perfect and still impress with virtuosity to settle for anything less. In this particular recording, you are settling for less. Try Rubenstein, please.

[gwizvideo]

Above all he was such an imaginative interpreter, giving such strong musical ideas with his performance. Each performance is different in substantial ways, as the muse moves him. Bravo for that.

[cattleman6420012000]

Horowitz will always be my absolute hero.

[dominicbalabat]

It's soo unfair... he's not playing the right notes... 5:30-5:39... I definitely know coz I'm practicing this piece... :(

Maybe horowitz just did it to make it easier and he already established his fame at this time so he would not take risks of playing one of the moderately difficult part of this piece...

[XxlonghairedfreakxX]

vladimir is my hero:D

[lovesGenet]

who are these asses at yutube who makeup statementsLiszt said thisHoro said that. you can barely recite alphabet.Ignoramuses never read a book n ya life.his ballade was a specialty but I've yet to hear an exceptional rec of him in it.Gorgeous color n slow parts and amazingly non-prcussive noise everywhereTRAVESTY .I would never have believed it was him except for the uncontrollabe things that characterize his bad playing.staccato octaves.shameless pedal.wthell is this!My hero again terribleop.23

[grishicles]

Oh and Dear Donnald,

If you are so clever in this sea of stupidity then surely you could recognise a 'cynical' remark or a mild 'joke'... and remember Horowitz once said:

"There are Three Kinds of Pianists - Jewish Pianists, Homosexual Pianists and Bad Pianists" ^^

[grishicles]

Ha ha easy champ, admittedly it was a gross generalisation on my part. Still I feel that sexuality plays a huge role in the development of a performer. Beethoven for one was notoriously unsuccessful with women being permenantly rejected by them or their parents and Chopin for example was very insecure. I dont know enough about Rubinstein or Rachmaninoff to comment.

[rvn10rvn17]

i never like horowitz's presto part.. listen to rubinstein or zimerman.

[astronomo16]

Only one person could play this: horowitz

[xvr6tx]

Breathtaking...

[realcityonfire]

COOL!

[cattleman6420012000]

This is fabulous playing and interpretation. Horowitz was so special.

[Gothic1982]

When was this recording made?

[beeteep60]

in the early 60's

[shrinkingglasses]

1982

[brightstarinthesky]

did u guys know Horowitz was gay.. Arthur Rubenstein even confirmed it!!

That certainly does not make Horowitz any less of a wonderful pianist..

[boomzxz]

That's not really our business either way. The music however is, and yes it is great. :)

[grishicles]

oh they were all gay, Richter was also gay and in a way I feel it is our business because without the repression of their sexuality they would not have been the pianists they were

[shitbeus]

great playing and interpretation has nothing to do with someones sexuality. For one, chopin and beethoven were not gay.

[MozartK365]

@brightstarinthesky so, what?

[akczenaiwok]

@brightstarinthesky In 1933, in a civil ceremony, Horowitz married Toscanini's daughter Wanda. Although Horowitz was Jewish and Wanda Catholic, this was not an issue, as neither was observant. As Wanda knew no Russian and Horowitz knew very little Italian, their primary language became French. They had one child, Sonia Toscanini Horowitz (1934–1975). It has never been determined whether her death, from a drug overdose, was accidental or a suicide.[1]

[TheRealDjiN]

horowitz on drugs, intresting! :)

[munadel123]

I totally agree with you on your favourite part boomzxz. I listen to this piece a couple of times every day for different pianists just to reach to this part. It actually lets me feel high. My favourite interpretation of it is zimerman's followed by horowitz's. The interpretation that i hated most was unfortunately from one of my favourite pianists, freddy kempf, he totally ruined the feel of the "dancing notes" in this part as you described it.

[boomzxz]

Heh, yeah :). I have quite a few versions of this that I listen to. My favorite would have to be either Zimerman's or Michelangeli's. I really enjoy Perlemuter's though, so it's hard to say. Anyway, thanks for the good comment. :)

P.S.

You're right... even some of the most amazing pianists somehow make the Presto con Fuoco area of the piece a little too... tight.

[dreamarkys]

WHAT was he thinking at 2:20?  That is pretty strange and humorous?

[BenMcCormack91]

Sorry; what did he do there? I only started paying attention to this piece after hearing Horowitz's version, so I just am used to his interpretations.

[Marwansl]

absolutely right, the part from 2:15 till 3:00 is completely strang...(plus other parts, but not as this one)

[mltube]

This performance makes me truly appreciate Horowitz's well documented sense of humor.

[yndtube]

It feels like I have experienced an earthquake. Wondering how he thought about Chopin.

[alexilmagnifico]

I prefer this against his other recordings on this ballade...

The Carneige hall recital I didn't liek it so much.. the hall was ''cold'' and I believe that the enviroment is one of the most important things to interpret

[teoakinyel]

when did he make this recording. I ask because I prefer it to the rest of his recordings of the piece.

[imlarge]

This piano sounds sweet! I bet it isn't steinway & sons...

[TheOneWingAngeI]

i thought he ONLY played on his steinway

[katudon1985]

とても個性的な演奏ですね。

興味深く聴きました。

とても面白い。

very unique performance!

It is interesting.

good!

[Jenjoliveur]

Not the best Horowitz.

[hophmi]

This is a little mannered.

[chopinopus28]

probably his best interpretation of this ballade.for me better than the 1965 or 1968.

[chopinopus28]

this is the 1982 version.you can find it on cd at horowitz plays chopin vol.1 from rca.

[piedijon]

Oh my god- this just made my life- the most hilarious thing ever! Craziness! However, amazing.

[Matticitt]

Great but there are few mistakes (8:05 - 8:24).

[Haeronthegreat]

I'm sorry, but I really thought this was atrocious. Certainly different and original, but atrocious in my opinion all the same.

[vilmadb]

Horowitz, You never going to die. Your notes are life itself.

[CIACHciach]

8:17 to 8:24 it's a joke or something?!

[boomzxz]

It is the Presto con fuoco passage. Actually, it is my favorite passage. Very well done overall.

[jobbenier]

You can notice there are mistakes, but this is horowitz' interpretation... Nothing to do about it :P

[Oobleshmerfadarkle]

I think his piano could've been a little less bright on the louder parts. That has nothing to do with his playing, just the piano. It just has a shallow, stark sound when he brings out the dynamics. Then again I like mellower pianos, but there's my two cents.

[laureanobruno]

Definitabamente, una de las mejores interpretaciónes de esta balada.

Es realmente increible como cambia el caracter de una obra según el pianista. Parecen diferentes piezas.

[childene]

Yes, I agree with Ihiram23, 1947 has it all over this one. It's maybe too crazy, but it can't be touched for what it says.

[IloveAlexisBledel689]

Bravo! Horowitz is the best.

[jhoward1957]

I would have loved to see Chopins reaction to Horowitz interpretation of this piece. Chopin had such a fire in his soul. I think he would have loved it.

[boomzxz]

I think you are very correct!

[hugotoxxxxx]

Amazing quality...and i like this performace more than that with 800,000 wiews...much more...

[boomzxz]

I'm glad you enjoy it :)

[GitanitaMerche]

muy bonita,trankila,apasionada pero con suavidad

te eleva tus sentidos sin ser tan brusco

es como ir flotando sobre una nube rosa de romantisismo emotivo y dramatico.

Asi describo esta excelente interpretacion.

saludos

[boomzxz]

Gracias para su comentario encantador, usted es muy agradable.

Perdone mi gramática española mala.

[lee23joseph]

Wonderful, it felt like being played a story within the music itself.

[zamyrabyrd]

I would appreciate knowing when this recording was made. Horowitz sure makes an orchestra out of the piano, while extracting more music from every phrase and harmony than any other pianist in living or recorded memory. What absolutely stunning basses that support the whole musical edifice! The coda is amazing--all of which is a lesson in what true greatness is all about.

[boomzxz]

I just did some digging around to find out exactly when this recording took place, however I can't find the exact date, I do know that it was either 1965 or 1968. I appreciate the comment though, I have a lot of respect for this music. :)

[lhiram23]

in fact, it was in London in 1982. You can see the video on youtube still now. Sorry, i prefer the 1965 version. Or 1947!

[ThePiano1991]

Fabulous! Love this piece... love Horowitz... what more do I NEED!?!?!?

[boomzxz]

I'm glad you like it so much, it is one of my favorites. :)