This historical register of the late Vladimir Horowitz performing in his native Russia, after 61 years of absence due to his exile in opposition to Communism, is really something to be seen, felt and above all, heard. The great piano master makes a great return here after dealing some health problems and after an unsuccessful stream of poor performances in the early 1980's due to some memory loss caused by the abuse of medication and drinking. Not only an excellent comeback and a lovely opportunity to visit old friends, but also an important look at the USSR during the then recent glasnost, which allowed Horowitz entrance there, accepted with grace by the crowd, formed by the elite and even common people as well.
Since I'm not a music buff, I can't and won't analyze the master's craft. It's not even fair, since he wasn't the same man who enchanted audiences in earlier decades, though many critics agree that this 1986 presentation can be defined as one of his greatest. But he still carried a powerful presence, all cool, with quick touches, and his rather unusual hand position while playing the piano. The program consisted of Mozart, Scarlatti, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Liszt, Schumann and Chopin (highpoint of the concert with his delicate rendition of the Polonaise), some work brilliantly, others sound too weak and confuse. And there's time to see some interviews, in one of them he tells stories of his meetings with Rachmaninoff, back when Vladimir was a child and already a keen player.
Not only the Soviets loved his return, but the world received him with enthusiasm by making of the album version of this performance one of the best sellers at the time, for a whole year, and earning Horowitz a Grammy as Best Classical Album in 1988. "Horowitz in Moscow" is extremely spellbinding and an opportunity to not be missed. 8/10
Since I'm not a music buff, I can't and won't analyze the master's craft. It's not even fair, since he wasn't the same man who enchanted audiences in earlier decades, though many critics agree that this 1986 presentation can be defined as one of his greatest. But he still carried a powerful presence, all cool, with quick touches, and his rather unusual hand position while playing the piano. The program consisted of Mozart, Scarlatti, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Liszt, Schumann and Chopin (highpoint of the concert with his delicate rendition of the Polonaise), some work brilliantly, others sound too weak and confuse. And there's time to see some interviews, in one of them he tells stories of his meetings with Rachmaninoff, back when Vladimir was a child and already a keen player.
Not only the Soviets loved his return, but the world received him with enthusiasm by making of the album version of this performance one of the best sellers at the time, for a whole year, and earning Horowitz a Grammy as Best Classical Album in 1988. "Horowitz in Moscow" is extremely spellbinding and an opportunity to not be missed. 8/10
