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In Reply to: In love with Bosendorfer posted by Beethoven on November 15, 2002 at 13:22:36:
About 20 years ago, I had a conversation with someone who told me a story about the immortal Vladimir Horowitz in rehearsals repeatedly knocking a just-purchased Bosendorfer ($$$) piano out of tune during his thunderous crescendos, so the old Steinway was brought in for the remainder of the rehearsals, with nary a problem. The Steinway ended up being used for the concerts.
Follow Ups:
...exactly why I hold him in such esteem, even if current opinion disregards him as some kind of pop idol.
I think of that cadenza late in the opening movement of the Rachmaninoff Concerto 3... Horowitz saves the "thunder" for the very end, and plasters the listener to the back wall... Where other pianists time the crescendo too early, and end up running out of steam... (I realize the "running out of steam" often comes from the loud "alternative" cadenza- I do prefer the original "light" cadenza, which Horowitz happened to use.)
I'm listening to a live recording of Horowitz playing Rachmaninov's second piano sonata right now, and although I've had the recording for a long time it continues to amaze me. Other recordings of the sonata had left me cold, but Horowitz reintroduced me to it. Also on the disc is an incredible recording of Scriabin's sonata no.5 (great piece), made in 1976 when Horowitz was in his seventies. That a man of his age could still have such immense control, such perfect articulation - particularly after years of self doubt - is nothing short of a miracle.
Any new piano takes time to settle in. It takes about 6 months.
If the Steinway were new, It would have been the same.
In fact I saw Pianist Richard Goode destroy a brand new
Steinway at a residence dedication party, I mean broken hammers,
besides out of tune. The tuner was there and said it was totally expected.
nt
dh
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