Horowitz vs. Ashkenazy

[zemos]

well, what do you think of the two Vladimirs?

[cziffra777]

well, what do you think of the two Vladimirs?

Other than the fact both are named Vladimir, why are you comparing them? I don't get questions like this... :-/

[chopiabin]

I don't think that there should be a comparison. Horowitz is and always will be one of the greatest pianists - he brought spontaneity and new life to every piece he played. Ashkenazy, on the other hand, often times plays very generically. I still think Ahkenazy is a great pianist who has an amazingly large repertoire, but he doesn't really compare to Horowitz.

[cziffra777]

I don't think that there should be a comparison. Horowitz is and always will be one of the greatest pianists - he brought spontaneity and new life to every piece he played. Ashkenazy, on the other hand, often times plays very generically. I still think Ahkenazy is a great pianist who has an amazingly large repertoire, but he doesn't really compare to Horowitz.

I agree, although I do like some of Ashkenazy's earlier recordings.

[Nightscape]

Who's better,

Yundi Li or Lang Lang?

[chopinsetude]

Who is better?  

There is less coughing in Ashkenazy live perfomances and he still has a pulse so there are some recent DIGITAL recordings.

One of the worst quality recordings I have is the Moolight performed live by Horowitz WAAAAY back- while his playing is nice, there is this overwhleming hisssssss all the way throughout.  I have a great recording of the Rach 3 by Horowitz and some guy in the audience coughs all the way through it.  It sounds like he is inside the piano!  (it's the New York Phil with Eugene Ormandy)

I have a real REAL bad performance of the Second Rach Concerto by Helene Grimaud where Ashkenazy conducts.  The sound is great but Helene cannot play this piece in-time with the orchestra. Whew - every time I hear it i think about how Ashkenazy was probably wanting to scream and run out of the building.

While I can't compare the two performers, I can tell you that Ashkenazy is in my CD player more often than Horowitz for the stated reasons.

[brewtality]

i don't like the thin brittle tone one can often hear in Ashkenazy's later performance. However some of his early recordings, such as his rach3 with fistoulari, are sublime.

[chromatickler]

well, what do you think of the two Vladimirs?

One is faster than the other.