Horowitz in Moscow
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.19 You Save: $4.75 (40%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Horowitz in Moscow
Movie Review: Wonderful
Summary: 5 Stars
My reviews of these violinists and this pianist are becoming redundant. The performers are all so good, that I'm reduced to admiration and have little else to say. I remember many years ago I was listening to NPR, they had a female musical expert on and they were testing her, they had both Rubinstein and Horowitz play something by Chopin, she was supposed to identify the pianist. She guessed wrong both times. I guessed right. I thought at the time that Rubinstein was the supreme player of Chopin, and I thought the Horowitz version was cold. This was many years ago, and while I still prefer Rubinstein's Chopin (warmer), Horowitz is my hero, my favorite pianist, though I'm not nuts about his customary choices of composers. But this flick. It is a perfect gem (and so tragically underpriced, anyone can afford it). The drama of the arrival, Horowitz' conversation, the shots of the audience (some of whom, yes, were crying), the marvelous close-ups of his hands (his nails were unclipped and seemed to be dirty, and he doesn't arch his fingers which my very dim and distant piano teacher used to tell me was imperative, though he does it some on the right hand), and the music. It was glorious. I love Horowitz. One glitch. There would be. My disc was defective, and somewhere during the penultimate piece it screwed up, so I didn't get to see the whole thing, I missed the last 2 pieces of music and whatever dramatic or "human interest" ending was on the film. But good old Amazon is already getting ready to ship me a replacement and tonight I returned the defective copy. I'll have the new one in 2 days. One last note. I've been going broke the passed few weeks buying musical performances on DVD, and one thing I've noticed, it's unmistakable. These people, these musicians, apart from their wonderful skills, are intelligent, humorous and compassionate. All 3, and all of them. It's humbling and refreshing.Movie Review: Horowitz's Historic Moscow Performance -- A Legend At His Best!
Summary: 5 Stars
I own the original videotape of "Horowitz in Moscow" and "Horowitz in London." Both are wonderful (5 stars each), but "Horowitz in Moscow" is extraordinary. It's like two DVDs in one. You get great personal insight into the life of Horowitz, particularly about his emotional return to Russia after a 60 year absence. This "return" -- a running theme in the lives of displaced Russian pianists who fled to the West, like Horowitz and Rachmaninov -- sets the emotional tone for the Russian recital (and encores) marvelously. One cares about Horowitz more and hopes to hear great performances. The grand master delivers. On the DVD you will find several Scarlatti, Scriabin, Rachmaninov, and countless other gems. Pianists tend to age well. It's not uncommon to see a seventy or eighty year old pianist wobble to the piano (one wonders if they will get there without collapsing), sit down shakily, and explode into a wonderful performance that is at least 85-90% of their best ever. Sometimes, an older pianist playing a piece that requires greater musical understanding and maturity -- and is less taxing technically -- will play the piece even better than in their youth. You get much of the latter on this DVD. Horowitz's fingers were so remarkable in his youth that the grand master's 90% is another's 150%. There is no meltdown of skill here. This is a virtuoso at his prime, at times excelling his youthful performances of Scriabin, Scarlatti, and others. No musical library is complete without this DVD. Now, if only "Horowitz in London" came out on DVD too!Movie Review: A mesmerizing legacy
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this DVD based on the reviews I read. I was rewarded with a transcendant musical experience. It is so much more than just the music that makes this DVD special. It is a privilege to be able to watch Horowitz play these pieces. The incredible technique and control he had is breathtaking. As a pianist I am awed. As a human being you can appreciate how he bridged the differences between two countries at the tail end of the cold war with the beauty of his playing. During the Schumann piece there is a brief scene where an elderly man in the audience is shown with his eyes closed and tears streaming down his cheek. I think that, more than anything, can sum up this DVD and Horowitz. That a man can make music this beautiful makes you feel optimistic for the potential of the human race again. It really is that inspiring. I also appreciate the excellent sound quality. An all around excellent purchase.Movie Review: Horowitz in Moscow on DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
It is good to see the powers that be in the DVD world are not ignoring classical music. I have been wanting to see Horowitz material reissued in the new format and I was not disappointed.
Comparing the DVD to my LaserDisc, I find that the video portion is somewhat superior on DVD, with improved clarity and contrast. The sound is also better. There are two audio versions, the original non-compressed stereo, and a new Dolby Digital 5.1 track which will knock your socks off. If you have a DVD player, this disc is a must, if you haven't purchased a player yet, this is incentive to get one!
Unlike the Pioneer DVD release, this Sony release contains Horowitz's final encore, Rachmaninoff's Polka VR.
Now, how about putting the other Horowitz videos on DVD?
Movie Review: *Outstanding* performance by Maestro Horowitz!
Summary: 5 Stars
Another outstanding performance by Maestro Horowitz, especially at 82 years old! I love his positive attitude, sense of humor, and strength of character.
I listen to Maestro Horowitz's recordings of Chopin Etudes daily, as his crystalline clear, well-articulated fast phrases on works such as the Revolutionary Etude, the Black Key Etude, etc. really set him apart from his peers. Hi succinctness and dynamite interpretations are second to none. I also love his recording of Chopin's Military Polonaise. I use his recordings a lot in my own piano-playing to grasp the interpretative genius from Maestro Horowitz.
I do regret not being able to attend this concert in 1986; I would have been thirteen years old at the time, but I am sure I would have enjoyed it!