Vladimir Horowitz - ‘The Studio Recordings - New York 1985’ (1986). I love these DG discs Horowitz made when he was in his eighties, a last link to an era of pianism now gone. I can’t believe they are over 30 years old! In this period he played shorter pieces which conserved his energies somewhat whilst letting the pyrotechnics of old come to the fore occasionally, for example in ‘Kreisleriana’ and at the end of the Scriabin Op. 8 No. 12 Etude. He had unique style making every piece seem fresh and different, an event each time he played it. Wonderful!
Vanessa Fernandez, Use Me. I’d been streaming this album for about a year. I couldn’t quite bring myself to pay the asking price for the record. Finally my mum gave it to me for Christmas. Fab!
Sandy Denny – vocals, harpsichord Richard Thompson – electric and acoustic guitars, electric dulcimer, piano accordion, organ, backing vocals Ashley Hutchings – bass, backing vocals Simon Nicol – electric and acoustic guitars, electric dulcimer, backing vocals Martin Lamble – drums, stacked chair backs on “Si Tu Dois Partir” Additional personnel: Iain Matthews – backing vocals on "Percy’s Song Dave Swarbrick – fiddle on “Si Tu Dois Partir”, “A Sailor’s Life”, and “Cajun Woman” and Mandolin on “Million Dollar Bash” Trevor Lucas – triangle on “Si Tu Dois Partir” Marc Ellington – vocals on “Million Dollar Bash” Dave Mattacks – drums on “Ballad of Easy Rider”
Recorded at Sound Techniques and Olympic Studios, London 1969
Vladimir Horowitz - ‘Horowitz in Moscow’ (1986). In a way the late 1980s Horowitz work led up to this. An iconic recital in April 1986, a return to play in Moscow where he had not played for 60 years. A man in his eighties on his own at the piano playing to a packed hall and millions on TV. Delightful repertoire, emotionally and rapturously received by the live audience. All played with a full appreciation of the emotion and significance of the occasion and that Horowitz ‘twinkle in his eye’. Scarlatti, Mozart with a romantic feel, then classic old style Horowitz with Russian music, Rachmaninov and Scriabin. Ending with Chopin Mazurkas played with such vitality and freshness and a series of ‘lollipops’ played with all the flair of the showman together with some Horowitz embellishment. Pianism from a bygone age. Terrific!
Purchased this on cassette tape on my 11th birthday, a few months after Lennon’s murder. Wore it out fast-forwarding Yoko’s tracks. In retrospect her tracks are really rather good. Now have this on vinyl reissue - great SQ. I rate this album. J+Y picked some brilliant session musicians - Tony Levin’s bass playing through out is particularly classy (isn’t it always?).
Seriously though, did I ever mention the time I almost met Clapton on a beach in Antigua. He strolled past, Mr’s Dread pointed him out, he turned smiling at us but jumped on a jet ski off into the waves quicker than I could shout c*nt!
So far very enjoyable! Thank you.
