THE Rachmaninoff Third to Own

Vladimir Horowitz made three "official" recordings of Rachmaninoff's formidable Third Concerto. There are wonderful things in the 1930 recording with Coates, but that performance was severely cut. The 1978 version with Ormandy is also marvelous in its' own way, but this 1951 studio recording with Reiner is the probably Horowitz' high water mark in this piece, at least among his authorized recordings. There are a few cuts here, but not as severe as the version with Coates or Rachmaninoff's 1939 recording with Ormandy. Reiner is a sympathetic collaborator and draws some virtuoso playing from the pickup orchestra. The recording balance favors the piano, but Horowitz dazzling virtuosity and clarity deserve to be highlighted.

The solo pieces were recorded live later in Horowitz' career. Personally, I prefer the lithe, panther-like 1968 recording of the Rachmaninoff Sonata over this brooding version from 1980--but I wouldn't want to be without either recording. The G major prelude, recorded in 1977 is more lovingly played here than the more casual 1986 version recorded in Moscow. The e-flat minor Moment musical is electrifying in a way that could be only termed Horowitzian. Rachmaninoff's Polka (actually by Behr) was a favorite Horowitz encore, and his timing of the two "blues" chords in the coda brings a murmur of amusement from the audience. The sound here is a bit hard and airless, but a substantial improvement over the LP.