horowitz live 1968 pt 2 - plays schumann kreisleriana pt1

[xxJube1xx]

absolutely a masterpiece ! this piece was dedicated by Schumann to Chopin. However Chopin did not look at the score of it for several years after it was sent to him, and when he finally did he dismissed it and claimed that this is not music. Well as it is known Chopin didn't like Schumann a lot ( as well as other German composers ) but it's really queer that he should say something like that about this piece. Just some history

[kasyapa]

xxJube1xx - it's curious how many of the romantics said that a colleague's piece was not music - liszst said the same thing of chopin's "polonaise-fantasie"! you might enjoy comparing the recording i have of v.h. when i heard horowitz - just search kreisleriana dec 1985 and that should do it. it's a more probing interpretation - vintage late horowitz.

[townsendjean]

@xxJube1xx

Yet Schumann had such admiration for Chopin declaring him publicly “hat’s off gentlemen, a genius” ... backed up in due course by a heart-felt musical tribute in Carnaval entitled “Chopin”

where his assertion that “where words end, music begins” is certainly borne out. Apparently Schumann sent a copy of Carnaval to Chopin, but it was never acknowledged by him.

[kasyapa]

townsendjean - schumann's tribute is beautiful. even chopin could be silly sometimes. perhaps schumann was too wild-yet-german for him.

[xxJube1xx]

absolutely a masterpiece ! this piece was dedicated by Schumann to Chopin. However Chopin did not look at the score of it for several years after it was sent to him, and when he finally did he dismissed it and claimed that this is not music. Well as it is known Chopin didn't like Schumann a lot ( as well as other German composers ) but it's really queer that he should say something like that about this piece. Just some history 

[millriv]

nobody mentions the cortot version, still in many ways my favorite

[8JustGoodMusic8]

@millriv Greetings, dear friend. Indeed, very nice in many ways. Cortot's playing is rather misunderstood, he is mostly considered to be second-class. Although, the 1935 Cortot's recording of Kreisleriana has some mistakes at the text. But yeah, if it would be clearer, it would be much better than Horowitz's one, he [Cortot] had better sound at it (even though, can you compare these two with each other?...).

[morinoroba]

Wow ! You have a great recording collection of Horowitz ! I'm glad that I found your channel,thank you for sharing us these his recordings.

[kasyapa]

i hope you enjoy looking through everything. some new ones to come soon.

[buttsmellr]

Horowitz's interpretation of this piece is much more colorful than that of any other pianist I have heard--Volodos included. His exquisitely subtle control of the dynamics is unmatched.

[kasyapa]

he was in an odd mood the day of this performance, but i'm glad he dared. so much more meaningful than playing it safe.

[FlashyCat2008]

Check out Radu Lupu's version. I am not going to say that it is better but certainly at least as good. I find that Lupu defines the melodies better, less frills but more substance and just as fast.

[aardvaark069]

Say what you want but this beats the hell out of the Hofman performance.

[kasyapa]

agreed. i found the hofmann pallid.

[abmsghost]

@aardvaark069 Pianists" beating the hell out of eachoters performances"..?you are on the wrong forum my friend..go to UFC better..ciao

[cmhmuscle]

well thank God it was never released.

[kasyapa]

would you elaborate? (i do find it lacking coherence.)

[ibclappin]

hey maybe 1968 was kind of a busy year for him or something and he didn't get to practice as much, i don't know that's just a guess.

listen to how he played prokofiev's toccata. he had the ability to do a much better job with kreisleriana and maybe he did in some other recording.

[kasyapa]

he didn't play the pro toc in '68, but i agree he was in far better form both before and after this whole concert. he sounds rushed and disjointed.

[alexjrmarino]

kjw163 :D :D Was he smokin' I wonder, too ?! :D He likes showing some technique sometimes.. then the gentle parts ;)

[kjw163]

What the hell was he smokin'? Typical Vlad.....running over and ruining a great work.

[shortestgiant]

Horowitz had a way of making a soft, slow section of a composition "float" and sing. He was best at this. His left hand, too, was always bringing out hidden melodies that lesser pianists missed.

True, sometimes he could "pound," and this phenomenon was different from his enormous release of sudden power. Yet, there's never been another like him.

[jul54jazz]

i absolutely agree with what you say about his left hand

[ClassicalMusicReview]

Mr.Horowitz wins the first round competition today over Mr.Cortot.He includes many more details in tempo manipulation combined with more penetrating and sonorously contrasted articulations to portray this first part of the Kreisleriana with a much greater cinematographic affect and psychic dimension than Mr. Cortot.Horowitz 1-0

[alexongcs]

Interesting....

[zach9524]

ugh

i hate when ppl play the 2nd section so fast

but besides that this is a master piece

and the pianist is its master

[patpenel]

Je trouve cette interprétation nettement plus inspirée que celle de 1985, bien plus vivante. Quel dommage qu'on n'aie pas la suite de la pièce !

Merci en tout cas, et longue vie aux Kreisleriana !

[chad410]

this is beutiful

[kasyapa]

i am glad you liked it so much. :)

[SCHUMANNasaSACRAMENT]

I AWARD THIS 2 1/2 CLARAS...Many details of phrase with the accompanying dynamic,articul-ation,and flexible timings...sound right.

But somehow,below the necessary superficie of that,THIS PERFORMANCE GYRATES BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN HAVING LITTLE AFFECT OR JUST NONE AT ALL.I can see why they didn't release it,as the Maestro's personal energy and state of mind don't sound up to his normal very high standards.

[kasyapa]

i'm not at all fond of any piece in this concert: they all seem often bizarre and off-kilter interpretively. i put it up for the historical interest, after some personal conflict. he did the kreisleriana much better in 12/85 when i heard him - i've put that concert up and i'd be interested in your feelings on that.

[chad410]

there is much wonder in this performance. i don t care about wrong nore. ;) SChumann here is executed delightfully like poetry and understood mind too

[123mortimer456]

Yes, 1968 was somehow off for him. I read somewhere that Arrau heard him around that time and found it horrid - cold, distorted, and with so much physical tension that it caused Arrau to freeze up physically himself. Nevertheless, this Kreisleriana is grand. I think Schumann was artistically closest to Horowitz of all composers. So even in Horowitz's most troubled moments, he and Schumann resonate. At any rate, thanks for putting this up despite your misgivings. it is historically important.

[alexongcs]

Hi my dear smith,

I actually applaud this performance, not because of its "poor" technical sounds, but actually and simply the mood and statement he wants to give it. I think and know this is his very essence, whether in high or low spirits. Good day. Bravo!!!

[SCHUMANNasaSACRAMENT]

It has admirable points...no question...and if you like it more than I...by all means...Haave at it!