|
100 years, that is. Considered by many critics and scholars the outstanding pianist of the 20th century, Vladimir Horowitz would have turned 100 years old on October 1 this year, so it's a perfect occasion to both honor his memory and contribution as well as marvel at some of the outstanding Horowitz performances gloriously captured on camera in his final, incredibly productive years. Born in Tsarist Russia, Horowitz fled his native country in 1925 (returning only 61 years later, as recounted in the marvelous Horowitz in Moscow). Soon after his emigration west, he became a sensation in concert halls all over Europe, thrilling audiences both with his technical mastery as well as the sheer joy he imparted while performing. Eventually settling in New York, with his wife Wanda Toscanini Horowitz (daughter of conductor Arturo) by his side, Horowitz's later years were marked by long periods of withdrawal from the concert stage. Then, in the early Eighties, he surprised the music world by presenting a series of recitals in the major concert halls of the world - a kind of final "victory lap," in which he awed audiences old and young and demonstrated what the "Horowitz legend" was all about. While many great performers have been recorded on film or tape over the years, few have had such a natural rapport with the camera as Vladimir Horowitz. He was a gifted performer who immediately struck up a relationship with his audience; even those with the most minimal appreciation or understanding of classical music get drawn in by him. In one sense, Horowitz can be said to have put the "play" back into playing; there's such an infectious sense of joy, complemented by his not infrequent winks and smiles, that he makes his great artistry inviting and welcoming to novices.
Special thanks to Peter Gelb and Sony Classical Music for making this series possible.
VLADIMIR HOROWITZ: THE LAST ROMANTIC
1986, Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Susan Froemke, Deborah
Dickson, Pat Jaffe, USA; 88 min.
In 1985, as he was preparing for what would be the final Performances of his unparalleled concert career - he was already 81 - Vladimir Horowitz
began spending hours each day rehearsing under the watchful and loving
eye of his wife Wanda Toscanini Horowitz. His manager at the time, Peter
Gelb, convinced him to allow in a small film crew to record these sessions;
The result is the wonderfully intimate portrait of one of the 20th century's
most extraordinary musicians at home at work. As the film amply demonstrates, Horowitz was one musician who knew how to put the element
of 'play" back into his playing; his sheer enjoyment with the wondrous
sounds he creates is infectious, and a mischievous smile appears every time he
thinks he's gotten a piece especially right.
Wed Oct 1: 6:30; Fri Oct 3: 5:15
HOROWITZ PLAYS MOZART
1987, Albert Maysles, Susan Froemke, Charlotte Zwerin, USA, 50 min.
In March, 1987, Horowitz agreed to record with a symphony Orchestra for the first time in 35 years. He chose the conductor (Carlo Maria Giulini), the orchestra (the Teatro allaLa Scala Philharmonic) and the recording studio (Abanella, in Milan); but despite repeated requests, he refused to allow these month-long sessions to be filmed?until the Evening of the last scheduled session. Within hours, filmmakers Albert Maysles and Susan Froemke were on their way from New York; additional crew were brought in from Rome, and by the time the recording was to start the next day at 4 pm?less than 24 hours after Horowitz had given his approval?they were ready to go. The result is a document of an extraordinary musical performance that has the immediacy of a news report; the filmmakers, with little set Up or rehearsal time, rely on their well-honed instincts to capture the dialog between Horowitz and the orchestra. A selection of the 1987 New York Film Festival.
Wed Oct 1: 8:30; Fri Oct 3: 4
VLADIMIR HOROWITZ, A REMINISCENCE
1993, Pat Jaffe and Bob Eisenhardt, USA;
followed by
Outtakes from VLADIMIR HOROWITZ: THE LAST ROMANTIC
Total: approximately 67 min.
VLADIMIR HOROWITZ, A REMINISCENCE takes a warm look at the life of
one of the most accomplished pianists who ever lived. Seen through the
eyes of Wanda Toscanini Horowitz, his wife of 56 years, the film traces his
life from his early childhood in Russia to his phenomenal concert career in
the West, through his prolonged and troubled absences from the concert stage
to his triumphant final years. Family photographs and rare home movies
offer glimpses into the personal, intimate world, while remarkable concert
footage from New York, London Moscow and Vienna present the public face
of the man. There is also some extraordinary footage of Horowitz in 1974 beginning to prepare himself to return to the stage after one of his
periods of retirement, as well as a marvelous performance of Scriabin's
Vers la flamme. Vladimir Horowitz: A Reminiscence won the 1994 Emmy Award for Outstanding Cultural Program. Also included in this program are several never-before-seen outtakes from VLADIMIR HOROWITZ: THE LAST ROMANTIC, featuring Horowitz at home playing selections from Chopin, Moszkowski and Liszt's Au Bord d'une source.
Thurs Oct 2: 6:30; Fri Oct 3: 7:15
HOROWITZ IN MOSCOW
1986, Brian Large, USA, 104 min. 89 minutes
One of the most anticipated musical events of the 20th century,
Vladimir Horowitz's return to his native Russia for the first time in 61
Years-since fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution-was as rich in emotional
resonance as it was in musical artistry. Horowitz visits some of the scenes of his childhood, and re-unites with relatives and friends he's not seen for decades; everywhere he's mobbed by adoring fans, who see his return?his visit in fact took place just at the start of perestroika?as a symbol of the change that would soon engulf Soviet society. Horowitz's performances from the Bolshoi Zaal in Moscow,
in a programs made up of challenging pieces by Scarlatti, Rachmaninoff,
Schubert, Mozart, Chopin and Scriabin, is simply breathtaking. Winner
of a 1986 News and Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational,
Cultural or Historical Programming.
Thurs Oct 2: 8:15; Fri Oct 3: 2
filmlinc.com home
|
