Was Horowitz as good as Liszt?

[cuberdrift]

I've read in certain sources (I can't remember which) where it's stated that Horowitz's pianistic capabilities could be match those of Liszt's. And I remember reading about someone who had heard both play, and declared that Horowitz's playing equalled that of the Hungarian maestro.

What do you think? Just a thought...

EDIT: As an added note, why wasn't Horowitz fond of playing or recording etudes? He has proven to be tough enough to conquer stuff such as Islamey or Rach 3, and his Carmen Fantasy is ridiculously exciting - why avoid Chopin etudes?

[nyiregyhazi]

? Off the top of my head, there are recordings of at least 10. And there are also pirates of the octave study and a piano roll of the last of op. 25. 50 percent is hardly avoiding them.

[iansinclair]

Do you prefer apples or oranges?  They were both superb pianists.  They weren't the same. 

As to avoiding certain literature?  I wouldn't say Horowitz avoided the Chopin etudes, really -- as has been said, there are recordings of at least half of them.  But that isn't the point.  A more valid question -- to my mind -- would be why didn't he like them (if indeed he didn't) as much as some other music.  And for that you'd have to ask him, which would be difficult.  We all have personal preferences!

[thalbergmad]

Having heard both live, I would say Liszt was superior.

He could also drink more.

Thal

[j_menz]

Having heard both live, I would say Liszt was superior.

He could also drink more.

Thal

He had a better class of groupie, too.

[j_menz]

EDIT: As an added note, why wasn't Horowitz fond of playing or recording etudes?

In addition to the Chopin ones mentioned, he also recorded etudes by Debussy, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff and Moszkowski.

It would appear he didn't do complete sets of anything - why should Chopin's etudes be the exception to that?