Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: Grave - Doppio movimento
2. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: Scherzo
3. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: Marche Funèbre. Lento - attacca:
4. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: Finale. Presto
5. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 33: No. 2
6. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No. 5
7. Arabeske for piano in C major, Op. 18
8. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 1. Von fremden Ländern und Menschen
9. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 2. Kuriose Geschichte
10. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 3. Hasche-Mann
11. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 4. Bittendes Kind
12. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 5. Glückes genug
13. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 6. Wichtige Begebenheit
14. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 7. Träumerei
15. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 8. Am Kamin
16. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 9. Ritter vom Steckenpferd
17. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 10. Fast zu ernst
18. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 11. Fürchtenmachen
19. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 12. Kind im Einschlummern
20. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) for piano, Op. 15: 13. Der Dichter spricht
21. Toccata for piano in C major, Op. 7
22. Hungarian Rhapsody, for piano No. 19 in D minor (after Ábrányi, Csárdás nobles), S. 244/19 (LW A132/19)

Disc 2:

1. Sonata for keyboard in E major, K. 531 (L. 430)
2. Sonata for keyboard in A major, K. 322 (L. 483)
3. Sonata for keyboard in G major, K. 455 (L. 209)
4. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor ('Pathétique'), Op. 13: 1. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
5. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor ('Pathétique'), Op. 13: 2. Adagio cantabile
6. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor ('Pathétique'), Op. 13: 3. Rondo. Allegro
7. Impromptu for piano in G flat major, D. 899/3 (Op. 90/3)
8. Etude for piano No. 12 in C minor ('Revolutionary'), Op. 10/12, CT. 25
9. Etude for piano No. 19 in C sharp minor, Op. 25/7, CT. 32
10. Scherzo for piano No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20, CT. 197
11. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 4... Les fées sont d'exquises danseuses. Rapide et léger
12. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 5... Bruyères. Calme
13. Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123: 6... General Lavine - eccentric. Dans le style et le mouvement d'un Cake-Walk
14. Poème for piano in F sharp major, Op. 32/1
15. Etude for piano in C sharp minor, Op. 2/1
16. Etude for piano in D sharp minor, Op. 8/12

Disc 3:

1. Sonata for keyboard in D major, K. 33 (L. 424)
2. Sonata for keyboard in A minor, K. 54 (L. 241)
3. Sonata for keyboard in F major, K. 525 (L. 188)
4. Sonata for keyboard in F minor, K. 466 (L. 118)
5. Sonata for keyboard in G major, K. 146 (L. 349)
6. Sonata for keyboard in D major, K. 96 (L. 465) 'La caccia'
7. Sonata for keyboard in E major, K. 162 (L. 21)
8. Sonata for keyboard in E flat major, K. 474 (L. 203)
9. Sonata for keyboard in E minor, K. 198 (L. 22)
10. Sonata for keyboard in D major, K. 491 (L. 164)
11. Sonata for keyboard in F minor, K. 481 (L. 187)
12. Sonata for keyboard in A major, K. 39 (L. 391)
13. Sonata for keyboard in G major, K. 547 (L. S28)
14. Sonata for keyboard in B minor, K. 197 (L. 147)
15. Sonata for keyboard in F sharp minor, K. 25 (L. 481)
16. Sonata for keyboard in D minor, K. 52 (L. 267)
17. Sonata for keyboard in G major, K. 201 (L. 129)
18. Sonata for keyboard in C minor, K. 303 (L. 9)

Disc 4:

1. Toccatas, transcriptions (2) for piano in D minor & C major (BWV 564/565; BBGA 7/3), KiV B29: 1. Preludio, quasi improvvisando. Tempo
2. Toccatas, transcriptions (2) for piano in D minor & C major (BWV 564/565; BBGA 7/3), KiV B29: 2. Intermezzo. Adagio
3. Toccatas, transcriptions (2) for piano in D minor & C major (BWV 564/565; BBGA 7/3), KiV B29: 3. Fuga. Moderamente scherzando, un poc
4. Fantasie (Obolen auf Beethovens Monument) for piano in C major, Op. 17: 1. Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen
5. Fantasie (Obolen auf Beethovens Monument) for piano in C major, Op. 17: 2. Mäßig. Durchaus energisch
6. Fantasie (Obolen auf Beethovens Monument) for piano in C major, Op. 17: 3. Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten
7. Piano Sonata No. 9 ('Black Mass'), Op. 68
8. Poème for piano in F sharp major, Op. 32/1

Disc 5:

1. Mazurka for piano No. 21 in C sharp minor, Op. 30/4, CT. 71
2. Etude for piano No. 8 in F major, Op. 10/8, CT. 21
3. Ballade for piano No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, CT. 2
4. Serenade for the doll, for piano (Children's Corner No. 3), L. 113/3
5. Etude for piano in C sharp minor, Op. 2/1
6. Etude for piano in A flat major, Op. 72/11
7. Kinderszenen No. 7 ('Träumerei'), for piano, Op. 15/7
8. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major ('Alla Turca') K. 331 (K. 300i): 1. Tema. Andante grazioso e variazioni
9. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major ('Alla Turca') K. 331 (K. 300i): 2. Menuetto - Trio
10. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major ('Alla Turca') K. 331 (K. 300i): 3. [Rondo] alla Turca. Allegretto
11. Polonaise-fantasy for piano No. 7 in A flat major, Op. 61, CT. 156

Disc 6:

1. Ballade for piano No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, CT. 2
2. Nocturne for piano No. 15 in F minor, Op. 55/1, CT. 122
3. Polonaise for piano No. 5 in F sharp minor, Op. 44, CT. 154
4. Sonata for keyboard in E major, K. 380 (L. 23) 'Cortège'
5. Sonata for keyboard in G major, K. 55 (L. 335)
6. Arabeske for piano in C major, Op. 18
7. Etude for piano in D sharp minor, Op. 8/12
8. Kinderszenen No. 7 ('Träumerei'), for piano, Op. 15/7
9. Variations on a Theme from Bizet's 'Carmen', for piano

Disc 7:

1. Piano Sonata in E flat major, Op. 12/2: 3. Rondo. Allegro
2. Gradus ad Parnassum, studies for piano, Op. 44: Book 1. No. 14. Adagio sotenuto in F major
3. Piano Sonata in B flat major, Op. 25/3: 2. Rondo. Vivace
4. Piano Sonata in A major, Op. 50/1: 2. Adagio sostenuto e patetico
5. Ich ruf' zu dir, transcription for piano (after J.S. Bach, BWV 639; Ten Chorale Preludes No. 5), KiV B27/5
6. Sonata for keyboard in F sharp major, K. 319 (L. 35)
7. Sonata for keyboard in G major, K. 260 (L. 124)
8. Keyboard Sonata in C major, H. 16/48: 1. Andante con espressione
9. Keyboard Sonata in C major, H. 16/48: 2. Rondo. Presto
10. Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101: 1. Allegretto ma non troppo
11. Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101: 2. Vivace alla Marcia
12. Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101: 3. Adagio ma non troppo

Disc 8:

1. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ('Moonlight'), Op. 27/2: 1. Adagio sostenuto
2. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ('Moonlight'), Op. 27/2: 2. Allegretto
3. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ('Moonlight'), Op. 27/2: 3. Presto agitato
4. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major ('Waldstein'), Op. 53: 1. Allegro con brio
5. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major ('Waldstein'), Op. 53: 2. Introduzione. Adagio molto - attacca:
6. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major ('Waldstein'), Op. 53: 3. Rondo. Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo
7. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ('Appassionata'), Op. 57: 1. Allegro assai
8. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ('Appassionata'), Op. 57: 2. Andante con moto - attacca:
9. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor ('Appassionata'), Op. 57: 3. Allegro, ma non troppo - Presto

Disc 9:

1. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 17, CT. 60-63: Mazurka no. 4 in A minor
2. Etude for piano No. 5 in G flat major, Op. 10/5, CT. 18
3. Introduction in C minor and Rondo in E flat major for piano, Op. 16, CT. 195
4. Waltz for piano No. 3 in A minor, Op. 34/2, CT. 209
5. Polonaise for piano No. 6 in A flat major ('Héroique'), Op. 53, CT. 155
6. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 59, CT. 86-88: Mazurka no. 3 in F-sharp minor
7. Mazurka for piano No. 32 in C sharp minor, Op. 50/3, CT. 82
8. Mazurka for piano No. 20 in D flat major, Op. 30/3, CT. 70
9. Mazurka for piano No. 27 in E minor, Op. 41/2, CT. 77
10. Mazurka for piano No. 23 in D major, Op. 33/2, CT. 73
11. Etude for piano No. 4 in C sharp minor, Op. 10/4, CT. 17
12. Etude for piano No. 3 in E major, Op. 10/3, CT. 16
13. Etude for piano No. 12 in C minor ('Revolutionary'), Op. 10/12, CT. 25
14. Prelude for piano No. 6 in B minor, Op. 28/6, CT. 171

Disc 10:

1. Polonaise for piano No. 3 in A major ('Military'), Op. 40/1, CT. 152
2. Prelude for piano No. 15 in D flat major, Op. 28/15, CT. 180
3. Etude for piano No. 6 in E flat minor, Op. 10/6, CT. 19
4. Trois nouvelles études, for piano, KK IIb/3, CT. 38-40 (B. 130): Étude in No. 2 in A-flat major
5. Mazurka for piano No. 7 in F minor, Op. 7/3, CT. 58
6. Waltz for piano No. 7 in C sharp minor, Op. 64/2, CT. 213
7. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor ('Concerto Without Orchestra'), Op. 14: Variations on a Theme by Clara Wieck. Andantno
8. Kreisleriana, 8 fantasies for piano, Op. 16: I. Äußerst bewegt
9. Kreisleriana, 8 fantasies for piano, Op. 16: II. Sehr innig
10. Kreisleriana, 8 fantasies for piano, Op. 16: III. Sehr aufgeregt
11. Kreisleriana, 8 fantasies for piano, Op. 16: IV. Sehr langsam
12. Kreisleriana, 8 fantasies for piano, Op. 16: V. Sehr lebhaft
13. Kreisleriana, 8 fantasies for piano, Op. 16: VI. Sehr langsam
14. Kreisleriana, 8 fantasies for piano, Op. 16: VII. Sehr rasch
15. Kreisleriana, 8 fantasies for piano, Op. 16: VIII. Schnell und spielend

Disc 11:

1. Feuillet d'album for piano in E flat major, Op. 45/1
2. Etude for piano in F sharp minor, Op. 8/2
3. Etude for piano in B flat minor, Op. 8/11
4. Etude for piano in D flat major, Op. 8/10
5. Etude for piano in A flat major, Op. 8/8
6. Etude for piano in F sharp major, Op. 42/3
7. Etude for piano in F sharp major, Op. 42/4
8. Etude for piano in C sharp minor, Op. 42/5
9. Etude for piano in G major, Op. 65/3
10. Poèmes (2) for piano, Op. 69: No. 1: Allegretto
11. Poèmes (2) for piano, Op. 69: No. 2: Allegretto
12. Vers la flamme, poème for piano, Op. 72
13. Feuillet d'album for piano, Op. 58
14. Fairy Tales (Märchen) (6) for piano, Op. 51: No. 3 in A major
15. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 36: 1. Allegro agitato
16. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 36: 2. Non allegro
17. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 36: 3. Allegro molto
18. Prelude for piano No.23 in G sharp minor, Op. 32/12
19. Moments Musicaux (6) for piano, Op. 16: No. 3 in B minor
20. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 33: No. 5 in E-flat minor
21. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 33: No. 2 in C major
22. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No. 9 in D major

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #216099 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 1993-10-05
• Number of discs: 13
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: 2.80 pounds

Amazon.com
It may surprise you to learn that, despite his untouchable reputation with the public, Vladimir Horowitz enjoyed a certain dubious reputation with the critics. For many, he was the epitome of the witless virtuoso, all technique and vulgar display, and no brains. There was some truth in this to the extent that he really could be variable on record, but by general consensus his Masterworks recordings show him at his absolute best. Aside from his famous Carnegie Hall concerts from 1965, you get stunning performances of music by Schumann, Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin, Scriabin, and above all, Scarlatti--the composer that Horowitz, more than anyone, put back on the map for pianists the world over. A great set. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

The greatest 20th Cent. pianist at his best!
If you were to take a set of piano music from only one performer to a desert island, this would be the set. Vladimir Horowitz was a pianist of incredible, almost unique, technical prowess capable of creating wonderful piano textures and tone colorings, and possessing his own dark, distinctive sound on a wonderful Steinway he had transported to each of his concerts or studio recording sessions. Of almost limitless ability, he suffered criticism from music critics because he severely limited his performing repertoire and stayed away from the concert stage for several prolonged periods because of his terrible insecurity and stagefright. He was especially criticized in his early years for bravura performances which were brilliant, but loud and not always tasteful. He was known for giving his enthralled audiences what they wanted, but it should be remembered that he championed Scarlatti and almost single-handedly brought him back into the performing world from near-oblivion, and it was Horowitz who premiered several important works by twentieth century composers such as Barber and Khatchaturian. He kept the works of the mysterious and exotic Alexander Scriabin from disappearing from piano benches in the conservatories, and he created some of the most imaginative and thrilling encore transcriptions ever heard in the concert hall. In later years, his repertoire expanded and he played some wonderful Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven, much of which is featured in this set. The highlight of this disc collection from the early 60's through about 1973 is the historic return concert at Carnegie Hall in 1965. After a self-imposed exile from public performing for 12 years, he made this famous recital which is one of the most memorable in the history of recorded piano performance. Although he made several nerve-induced mistakes in the opening Bach piece, he settled down quickly and delivered a thrilling performance, highlighted, for me, at least, by the Chopin Ballade in G minor, which took away my breath and featured one of the most dazzling climaxes I have ever heard on a piano. His incredible performance possessed a youthful vitality which belied his 62 years. Throughout the other discs in this set one hears Horowitz at his best: still technically awesome yet more musically mature and capable of producing little miracles from pieces well-known, and less-known. No longer pandering to the expectations of the audience, he gave as his encore at the Carnegie Hall return concert, a precious, child-like Traumerei from Kinderszenen. The Schumann featured on these discs includes some of the most beautiful offerings available anywhere of this composer, including a wonderful Fantasy in C and perhaps the best performance ever on record of Kreisleriana. The Schubert impromptus are little miracles, and the Debussy that's thrown in makes us fantasize about the other French music he could have given us! His wonderful Chopin reminds us there are other views besides Rubinstein's to this most-important-of-all piano literature, and his Rachmaninoff is glorious. Performing into his eighties, he was a wonder of music and the 13 discs offered here give a personal record of a dazzling career from his very best years. It might be pointed out that several pieces are offered more than once in the set as they were recorded in several concerts and studio sessions and it is interesting to hear the differences in his performances. One might wish that his piano oeuvre had included more composers and a wider range of pieces, but this collection certainly highlights the work he was best known for, including as it does the various Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Schumann, Scarlatti, Scriabin, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Clementi, and Beethoven gems he was noted for throughout his long career. Anyone loving the piano, or just beautiful music must hear these discs!

merely spectacular!
I've only had this set about a week and have already indulged three complete listenings; it's a gold mine! - the power of preaching is persuasive in the Temple of Horowitz! I'm taken aback by the unity and continuity of sonics, an excellent and remarkable display of high engineering art. Everything important is here (almost! I wish some of the Scriabin Preludes had been included). There are sketches of incomparable pianism and supreme intelligence in these discs: Liszt's 'Vallee d'Obermann', and the Consolations; Debussy's 'L'isle joyeux' - so 'russian playing french'! - Scriabin's 'Vers le flamme' and the Black Mass sonata - one simply can't climb out of the volcano, it's terrifying and beautiful! - and the Scarlatti and Chopin. Only Gilels approaches Horowitz's indigenous understanding of Chopin. In the course of thirteen discs the glory can start to crash in around you, but at the last moment of endurance along comes 'Serenade of the Doll', or one of the Consolations. The Bach-Busoni is cerebral and fine. Horowitz gets rapped for the wrong romanticism - it's the romanticism of artistic intelligence that his art claims! I love that famous C clunker at the beginning of the Bach-Busoni in the Return to Carnegie Hall recital; more than that, I appreciate how Horowitz played his public pride in it, no retouches, etc. Shrewd, and very real, I think. He was a pianist of enormous humility on the inside, so completely knowing of his gifts - one of the reason his playing was something special. He possessed the often disregarded ability to stand completely outside his playing and admire it as one might a beautiful woman, with complete humility. It affords us the privilege of reaping joy after joy of a remarkable art the likes of which will surely stand true for a long time. 200 bucks is a lot of money, I probably would have thought it too much for the convenience of a collection; I'm glad someone else didn't feel that way, and gave me the set! - now I find it curiously too clever a package to be considered merely a consolidation of recordings into a 'set' - there is something indefinably congruent about these recordings. They fit together with harmonious intent, and shine and shadow the land with a marvelous music. Highest recommendation without reservation.

The Best Classical Piano Boxed Set Available
If you are going to buy only one boxed set of classical solo piano music, this is the one to get. The recordings, made between 1962-1973, show Vladimir Horowitz at the absolute top of his form.

The first two volumes chronicle Horowitz's return to the studios after signing an exclusive recording contract with Columbia Masterworks. Highlights include the legendary Scarlatti album; Horowitz's finest recorded performance of Chopin's Sonata, Op. 35; and an unbelievable performance of Horowitz's own arrangement of Liszt's relatively unknown Hungarian Rhapsody No. 19.

Volumes 3 & 4 document Horowitz's concert activity between 1965-1968, a time when he was making no studio recordings. His "Return to Carnegie Hall" album has never been out of the catalogue since 1965, and it is most welcome to hear it in this wonderful remastering. The only sorrow here is that the 1968 Television Recital from Carnegie Hall is not available in video. Sony should put this on DVD immediately.

The remaining items are culled from Horowitz's post 1969 studio recordings and various recitals from 1965-1968. The highlights here are Horowitz's Scriabin recordings; Rachmaninoff's Second Sonata; and Schumann's Kreisleriana--perhaps Horowitz's finest solo recording ever.