Between 1962 and 1973 Vladimir Horowitz was under exclusive contract to Columbia Masterworks (now Sony Classical). The relationship resulted in what many piano experts consider Horowitz’s most satisfying recordings from both a musical and engineering standpoint. Many of them have long been regarded as classics, like Schumann’s Kreisleriana, the Rachmaninov Second Sonata, the celebrated Scarlatti series, molten Scriabin, and of course, the pianist’s famous May 9, 1965 Historic Return. Horowitz returned to the label in 1989 for what proved to be his last recording (he died only four days after his final session).
In the Hands of a Master contains nothing that hasn’t been out before on CD or that older Horowitz fans don’t already own. But if you’re new to Horowitz, this collection provides a decent introduction to the pianist’s Sony holdings. It allots equal time to the artist’s lyrical, colorist side (Schumann’s Arabeske, Schubert’s G-flat Impromptu, Chopin Mazurkas, and various Scarlatti Sonatas) and to his demonic personality (Liszt’s Scherzo & Marsch, Scriabin’s D-sharp minor Etude, Rachmaninov’s D major Etude-Tableau, Chopin’s G minor Ballade and A-flat Polonaise, plus Horowitz’s famous “Carmen” Variations).
His fascinating though controversial Beethoven is dumbed down to single movements only from the “Pathetique” and “Moonlight” sonatas. By contrast, we have the entirety of the pianist’s 1962 Schumann Kinderszenen. Two additional Sony Classical Horowitz Centenary reissues also contain this Kinderszenen, by the way (making a grand total of seven U.S. Horowitz Kinderszenen reissues since compact discs came on the market). Photos inside the jacket spine include reproductions of job sheets from several of the original recording sessions. Eagle-eyed Horowitz mavens will notice that one of the sheets lists a test recording of Beethoven’s Op. 31 No. 3 E-flat Sonata. Horowitz never recorded the work elsewhere, and rarely if ever played it. Does the performance still exist? Perhaps it can be coupled with Kinderszenen…
