Why is Horowitz so famous? Was he really that amazing?

[musicioso]

Just wondering..

As far as i know, he is the most famous name among great pianists. Is that fair considering there were/are so many more amazing pianists like Cziffra, Richter, Gilels, Hamelin, Argerich and so on..

What do you guys think, what made him so famous? His musicality, his technique, him being a Russian at the time of high tension between west and sovjet union?

And whats your personal opinion about him, how high do you rank him?

 

[chauncey]

This could help a bit: https://www.favorite-classical-composers.com/vladimir-horowitz.html

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Why is Horowitz so famous? Was he really that amazing?

Well think about why every other pianist is famous. 

You never have bad, famous pianists, all the famous pianists are always good.

And don't say Lang Lang or Yuja Wang are bad pianists, because they're not.  You're just haters. 

[j_menz]

You never have bad, famous pianists, all the famous pianists are always good.

Liberace ? 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Liberace ? 

He was a showman, but still a good pianist.

Let me rephrase what I said earlier.

You never have bad, famous pianists, all the famous pianists are always good.

With the exception of J Menz.  He's not famous.

[arturfan]

Yes, he really was amazing.  He's in my top two.

[j_menz]

You never have bad, famous pianists, all the famous pianists are always good.

With the exception of J Menz.  He's not famous.

That's like saying all swans are white with exeption of that crow over there that isn't a swan. 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

That's like saying all swans are white with exeption of that crow over there that isn't a swan. 

Except you really are a professional pianist.

Come on, don't be so modest!

[j_menz]

Except you really are a professional pianist.

Only if it is possible to be one without performing, recording or receiving any financial reward. 

Come on, don't be so modest!

Modesty is not one of my failings.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Only if it is possible to be one without performing, recording or receiving any financial reward. 

You are my favorite pianist. 

I can't wait to get tickets to one of your concerts!  Tell me when you'll be in the Chicago area.

[j_menz]

You are my favorite pianist. 

I can't wait to get tickets to one of your concerts!  Tell me when you'll be in the Chicago area.

Valentina will be so hurt.

I'm pencilled in for July 2075. The theatre hasn't been built yet and much of the music hasn't been written.

[lostinidlewonder]

Look at his arrangements for piano, fantastic and proves he knew the piano better than the average concert pianist.

His recordings unmistakeably bear his own musical language, he has to be one of the easiest to recognize pianists from listening to a recording. I think this says a lot. All the greatest pianists have this unique sound to them that sets them a part.

Horowitz missed notes and was human, we have better technicians today but his musicality to me glitters with the old golden age of piano which has all but vanished in today's piano world (not to be so dramatic, the old tradition still lives on but today there are tonns more expert technicians with just good musicality).

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Valentina will be so hurt.

I'm pencilled in for July 2075. The theatre hasn't been built yet and much of the music hasn't been written.

I mean favorite pianist next to Valentina Lisitsa!  The only place in my heart is for Valentina Lisitsa!



Wouldn't you be dead by then?  I would probably be dead too!

[musicioso]

That's like saying all swans are white with exeption of that crow over there that isn't a swan. 

lmao

[j_menz]

I mean favorite pianist next to Valentina Lisitsa! 

But I've never been next to Valentina Lisitsa... 

Wouldn't you be dead by then?  I would probably be dead too!

You may be. I've got that pencilled in for much later.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

But I've never been next to Valentina Lisitsa... 

Hahahahaha that actually made me laugh out loud.

[musicioso]

Hahahahaha that actually made me laugh out loud.

Are you guys hating each other or something??

The topic is Horowitz and his fame. I dont wanna be mean, but after these jokes of yours no one will try to help me out..

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Are you guys hating each other or something??

The topic is Horowitz and his fame. I dont wanna be mean, but after these jokes of yours no one will try to help me out..

I gave you an answer.  The reason why he's famous is because he's a good pianist. 

There aren't really any bad famous pianists.

That's just how it is. 

[ajspiano]

Are you guys hating each other or something??

The topic is Horowitz and his fame. I dont wanna be mean, but after these jokes of yours no one will try to help me out..

Horowitz is pretty awesome. Its not a technical thing (in regard to which he's reasonable), he has a unique and very well controlled sound.

..next to J_menz.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

..next to J_menz.

But J Menz has never been next to Horowitz either.   

[ajspiano]

But J Menz has never been next to Horowitz either.   

J_menz ----> Horowitz

HAS NOW 

[j_menz]

But J Menz has never been next to Horowitz either.   

And it's not nearly as much fun these days.

As for Horowitz, I agree with aj as to the nature of his greatness. It's one of those things about the really top level pianists; like them or not, they have a clarity of vision regarding what they play and an ability to create a soundscape that is all their own. Lots of second teir pianists sound much the same as one another, but the true greats are unmistakeable.

[j_menz]

J_menz ----> Horowitz

HAS NOW 

Aaaargh!! Put me DOWN. Now!!! 

[ajspiano]

Aaaargh!! Put me DOWN. Now!!! 

              Horowitz  *ARGHH!!
                 _|_
                   |
                  /\
J_menz
   _|_
     |
___/\___________________

...You're welcome.


EDIT:
*wonders if this will be interpreted as J_menz having obscenely large and uneven feet.

[j_menz]

              Horowitz  *ARGHH!!
                 _|_
                   |
                  /\
J_menz
   _|_
     |
___/\___________________

...You're welcome.


EDIT:
*wonders if this will be interpreted as J_menz having obscenely large and uneven feet.

Good grief! 

[ajspiano]

*can't stop picturing PS hangman.

rach_
     _|_
       \

b _ _ t _ _ v _ _

...................................

s y q a r j g i m

[j_menz]

*can't stop picturing PS hangman.

Clearly someone has spiked your tea.

[davidjosepha]

Lots of second teir pianists sound much the same as one another, but the true greats are unmistakeable.

Would you care to submit to a blind test to see if this is actually true?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Horowitz doesn't play piano.

He IS the piano.

[adari]

This is the video which made me understand why Horowitz was considered such an outstanding pianist. No one  else plays it like this. That left hand has such a wonderful bounciness, and the dynamics are so perfectly controlled, with absolute clarity and no pedal blurring.

[alanteew]

Horowitz was also extraordinarily well connected--which could either have contributed to his success or been because of it, I suppose. He married Toscanini's daughter and was personal friends with a number of great composers (not just Rachmaninoff).

His place in time was also notable, since he bridged the end of the "golden age" of piano superstars (he came to the U.S. when Mason-Hamlin was in its original golden age), through high-quality recorded music (which he engaged and didn't flee as others did), and nearly into the present era. (And all this happening during the cold war probably didn't hurt.)

When I was a more serious student about 30 years ago, talking among well-known leaders and serious students in classical musical, Horowitz was REVERED for his technical ability. He was considered to have very few peers in that regard. If you're going to compare him to Lang Lang and the like, wait until they're in their 70s and 80s to do so.

I love that he was so unaffected--he played well, and focused on the music. To this day, I can't stand overly affected performances (some get really ridiculous).

[chopin2015]

Horowitz was jewish. He played piano very well. Particularly I cried when I heard him play Ballade no 1 by Chopin and etude op 25 no 5.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Horowitz was jewish. He played piano very well. Particularly I cried when I heard him play Ballade no 1 by Chopin and etude op 25 no 5.

What did being Jewish have to do with anything?

Incidentally, his Chopin Ballade is pretty good.  But it's ruined because it was recorded with a freaking cereal box!


Trying to be a little like J Menz

[chopin2015]

He said
" There are only 3 type of pianists: Jewish, Gay and BAD. "

[rachmaninoff_forever]

He said
" There are only 3 type of pianists: Jewish, Gay and BAD. "

That's because in an interview, he was asked if he was gay.  So he raged at the interviewer lol.

[j_menz]

Incidentally

Trying to be a little like J Menz

LOL. It takes more than that.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

LOL. It takes more than that.

You're right.  I have to become a professional pianist.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

LOL. It takes more than that.

You're right.  I have to become a professional pianist but pretend to be an amateur.

[j_menz]

You're right.  I have to become a professional pianist but pretend to be an amateur.

** SLAP 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

** SLAP 

Haha that was a good one.  Got you there kid!

Someone should make a thread where everyone tries to imitate other people on pianostreet.  This would be kinda funny.

[landru]

What made him amazing wasn't just his technical abilities but his musical abilities. There are certain pianists that make me want to run to the score and figure out where in the music they are getting the sounds I am hearing. Rubinstein is another one that did that to me. With some pianists they are pianists first, with Horowitz/Rubinstein they were musicians first.

[hfmadopter]

What made him amazing wasn't just his technical abilities but his musical abilities. There are certain pianists that make me want to run to the score and figure out where in the music they are getting the sounds I am hearing. Rubinstein is another one that did that to me. With some pianists they are pianists first, with Horowitz/Rubinstein they were musicians first.

And for Horowitz it wasn't a mechanical connection. He said himself in interviews that he plays pieces a little different each time. I agree, it's the musical expression that is the draw to him, is for me anyway. His music can be explosive at times, sweet and charming other times but never boring.

He was controversial and didn't care what anyone thought. He filled music halls all over the world, to include special invites to perform for royalty and presidents, it's amazing to me that someone has to ask if he was really all that good !

[chopinenthusiast]

I know this is quite an old thread at this point, but i've been listening to Horowitz play Chopin's etudes. I believe the reason he's quite amazing is the fact he does not use the pedal all that much, his accuracy is truly remarkable. He variates his dynamics and tempo in a way that interprets the piece nearly ideally, well at least, i think so. Horowitz is definitely up there when it comes to pianists. There's this idea of playing "your piano" whenever performing on stage. Playing in a way that conveys meaning to others, but mostly to yourself, however, that actions in itself makes it more meaningful to others. You can tell that Horowitz is a master of playing his piano, and no one can actually replicate his piano.