Horowitz Plays Liszt
It's a pity that RCA didn't wait until 1978 to record Vladimir Horowitz' shattering Liszt Sonata, rather than issuing this live performance from 1976. Horowitz had just reacquired the work, and its demanding figurations clearly had not settled in all in way. Still, Liszt and Horowitz' heroic voices ring true. The pianist packs everything but the kitchen sink intoMephisto Waltz, adding Busoni's embellishments and a coda of his own devising. By contrast, the gentle Consolation soars with simplicity. For prime Horowitz, turn to his classic 1950Funérailles, where his big vision and demonic flair prevent the music from becoming a mere octave etude.--Dan Davis