Horowitz Plays Scarlatti

Stunning revelation

Who knew the freshness that Horowitz brought to this canon? In one selection, he presages a connection to composers such as Glass and Adams. In another, the depth of feeling reaches out to the listener powerfully. This is a very enjoyable discovery for a non-expert. August 17, 2008

Saitsfaction guaranteed

I first heard Horowitz at Chicago's Orchestra Hall in 1967 or 68 when he returned to the stage and I didn't know who Horowitz was let alone Scarlatti. These pieces seem tailor made for Horowitz and his personality not to mention his abilities. A great cd to discover both performer and composer. July 3, 2008

Awesome performance - should have left off the extra tracks

I bought this CD after watching Olga Kern perform several Scarlatti sonatas at a phenominal 3-standing-ovation concert. She hasn't recorded those sonatas yet, so this was the closest recording I could find.

The performance and the recording are both exceptional. I sampled just about every other performance of Scarlatti I could find on-line before picking this CD and was not disappointed. It is an older recording, so it's not quite as clean and hiss-free as a newer DDD, but it's still very, very good and Horowitz is so good you'll be mesmerized by the fast and flawless expression of some wonderful music.

This music is fast - very fast, and there's lots going on with different themes moving up and down and in and out. It's hard to believe this can be played with less than 3 hands. With Horowitz playing, you hear it all, and just go WOW.

There's a couple of extra tracks at the end of the CD which should have been left off - there's someone in the audience coughing, and it's distracting enough that I just skip these when listening. December 8, 2007

So, that's what it was about the great fuss over Horowitz.

A landmark album. The leaflet accompanying the CD is also a landmark piece of article.
I agree that if Horowitz did not play anything else worthwhile, he would still unmistakably be remembered for his Domenico Scarlatti.
There are younger pianists nowadays playing Scarlatti, even the ENTIRE set of Scarlatti sonatas.
The value of this album lies not on quantity - it is by no means the complete set, but each single piece is played to such incomparable and exemplary level that you really need go no further for marvellous Scarlatti.
Some modern pianists play very decent Scarlatti - Ivo Pogorelich, for instance. Horowitz however should be accredited for being the pioneer of this composer's keyboard works, and this pioneer had by the same token set the standard for such pieces.
Who else could that person be but Horowitz? November 7, 2007

A Necessity

I love Horowitz simply on the basis of these recordings. If he had never done anything noteworthy for the rest of his life he could still retire with honor knowing that he had changed the world for the better. If you wish to develop a good music library, don't miss these recordings. August 13, 2007

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