Can anybody recommend some excellent recordings by the cult pianist Mieczyslaw Horszowski? Which composers did he do best, and would you consider any of his versions reference recordings of a specific work?
Posted on: 17 February 2006 by u5227470736789439
Dear Espen,
The only one I know, and it is priceless, is one or the other of the Brahms Cello Sonatas with Cassals. I know that is not much help, and otherwise I had a fine live recording of the Bach Second Partitia which was coupled with Chopin andd Szymanovsky (spelling?), but hea was one of the great pianist. I would have let you have it, but have already given it away.
On another tack, he plays the harpsichord for Adolf Busch in the unparalleled 1946 recording of the Opus Six Concerti Grossi of Handel. Now that IS something that everyone should here at leats once.
In other words, as Klemperer so sagaciously observed, if the man is a great musician, there is no repertoire he cannot master with greatness!. MH was a musician for all seasons, though no doubt others will fill in far more than I can.
Apologies for a thin answer! Fredrik
Posted on: 18 February 2006 by Sigmund
I agree with Fredrik that he could play anything he wanted. I have him at a live concert from '46 at the Vatican, a two disc set on Pearl. Historic sound, wonderful playing. If you like him, check out Benno Moiseiwitch, a contemporary of his. Wonderful Beethoven and Tschaikovsky, available on Naxos.
