Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Arturo Toscanini :: Tchaikovsky: Concerto No.1/Beethoven: Concerto No. 5 "Emperor"

Unique and incomparable

Norman Duffy | Amsterdam | 07/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a unique vision and outstanding version of the famous concerto. First of all it is a concert version made under exceptional circumstances - a war bond concert that raised vast sums of largesse towards the US second world war effort. In addition, the maestro was Toscanini who was at that time the unrivalled king of the US platform and had the talent, ego and personality enough to flatten the most prodigious talent.Horowitz himself has a fantastic reputation as interpreter of the Tchai first but was heading towards his first - 12 year - self-enforced retirement and was already riddled with the self doubt that got him there. In addition, his relationship with Toscanini, his father-in-law, was one based primarily on fear. Quite understandably so by all accounts. Other recorded Horowitz concerto performances with the maestro bear testimony to the fact that he found it hard to overcome Toscanini's enormous personality.This time however something genuinely clicked, possibly because Horowitz could dominate a concert performance in a way that he couldn't in the studio. The adrenaline and personality in this performance are truly astounding. In inimitable Horowitzian fashion there is some re-writing of the score most especially in the coda of the finale where the ascending interlocking octaves scream way past the point where normal piano keyboards have disappeared. Its quite an effect.In this way and with the performance as a whole, it is impossible to compare it with any other performance before or since. It is a unique record that demands attention, occasional attention I would say, rather than representing a reading to live with every day. It is simply a recording you have to hear.There is any number of fine performances of this concerto, but for a fascinating visual document try the new the new Gilels DVD on EMI. This a remarkable document of a simply divine performance even allowing for ropey sound and dodgy camera work from 1958. It also has a sensational account of Prokofiev's third piano sonata recorded by Gilels in London a year later. Such sweep and command of keyboard colour, musical structure and colour is simply awesome to behold."

Please listen to this Tchaikovsky

J. Buxton | Waltham, MA United States | 02/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, it was recorded in 1943 so of course the sound is a bit compromised. But your ear will adjust. Just listen to the pianism in the Tchaikovsky! Some of the tempi are on the fast side as was customary for Toscanini, but Horowitz is completely dazzling here. The Beethoven is also very good, with better sound(it was recorded much later) and with an alert and sympathetic Fritz Reiner conducting. Engaging, powerful, and yet very tender in the central slow movement. All in all a great pairing."

An electrifying Tchaikovsky

dcreader | Washington DC area | 06/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Horowitz and Toscanini produce an electifying rendition of Tchiakovsky's First Piano Concerto. Although I have several renditions, this one remains the most memorable and exciting. As good as Toscanini and the orchestra are, this is Horowitz's and he dominates in a style that would probably be dismissed today as lacking subtlety. No matter - the overall impression is one of vitality and exileration.The sound is very good for a mid 1940s recording. Indeed, it is better than some more recently recorded CDs I've heard."