Horowitz in Uncharacteristic Repertoire

Beethoven and Brahms are not composers one usually associates with Vladimir Horowitz. The ever popular "Moonlight" Sonata of Beethoven was recorded three times by the pianist. This 1946 recording originated on 78rpm discs and the remastering leaves something to be desired--the result manages to be both noisy and filtered sounding. Although pianistically peerless, the performance sounds uninvolved and passionless.

The Brahms Sonata is from a few years later and is one of the few recordings featuring Horowitz in chamber music--and the only recording made with his childhood friend Nathan Milstein. Although dry and closely miked, the sound is more acceptable. As teenagers, Horowitz and Milstein had played this work together in Russia--and the performance is suitably intense.

The charming and pianistically advanced Haydn sonata was a Horowitz specialty for many years--this was his second (1951) of two recordings of the piece. Personally, I prefer the earlier (1934) version--it was more faithful to Haydn's text. Nevertheless, one can't fault Horowitz for the dash and nimbleness of this performance.