Ad Astra

Ad Astra

Track Listings

1. Left Brain Ambassadors

2. Wonderful World

3. Sedated

4. Angel Of Betrayal

5. Blessed

6. Per Aspera Ad Astra

7. Save Your Soul

8. Until The Morning

9. Escaping The Fools

10. On Dark Rivers

11. The Goddess

12. Mantra

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
2000 release from Swedish metal act. 12 tracks including ' Left Brain Ambassadors', 'Wonderful World', 'Sedated' & 'Angel Of Betrayal'. Standard jewel case.

Tracks:

Organ Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C Major, BWV 564 I. - J.S. Bach
Organ Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C Major, BWV 564 II. - J.S. Bach
Organ Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C Major, BWV 564 III. - J.S. Bach
Fantasy In C Major, Op.17 (I)
Fantasy In C Major, Op.17 (II)
Fantasy In C Major, Op.17 (III)
Piano Sonata No. 9 In F Major, Op. 68 'Black Mass' - Scriabin
Poeme In F-Sharp Major, Op. 32, No. 1 - Scriabin

Tracks:

Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 30, No.4 - Chopin
Etude No. 8 In F Major, Op. 10 - Chopin
Ballade in G Minor, Op. 23, No.1 - Chopin
Serenade For The Doll No.3 - DeBussy
Etude In C-Sharp Minor, Op.2, No.1 - Scriabin
Etude No. 11 In A-Flat Major, Op.72 - Moszkowski
Traumerei
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (1)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (2)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (3)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (4)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (5)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (6)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (7)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (8)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (9)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (10)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (11)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (12)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (13)

Customer Reviews:

A historical legacy!.......2006-03-28

Despite I am not a Horowitz admirer, it 's worthy to underline and emphasize the colossal pianism and thunderous fingering around every one of its different performances.

The special distinction around this album is the fresh inspiration and notable musicality emanated in this Recital, that deserves to be catalogued as a cult recording among the impressive and even excellent live recordings in the Sixties.

A bravura performance and a genuine expression make of this album a very special recommendation.

Masterpieces played by the great Horowitz.......2004-12-12

This Carnegie Hall return recital is one of the greatest recordings by Horowitz. With a huge audience, Horowitz did not disappoint. He plays the Bach/Busoni as only he can play; it is eternally beautiful. Schumann has some mistakes, but those mistakes make the playing even more fascinating. The Scriabin is also excellent.

I am confident in saying that Horowitz's mazurka here is the best recording of op. 30 no. 4. Horowitz takes his time and does not rush the tempo, which is soooo easy to do with this piece. The etude is played awesomely, but the real treat is the Ballade no. 1. Horowitz played this piece all his life and played it very different many times, but this ballade is the best, most musical he ever played, mistakes and all.

The encores are also a treat, and the complete Kinderszenen bonus is another reason to buy this cd. The bonus dvd contains Liszt's Au Bord D'une Source, Chopin's Black key etude, and Moszkowski's etude in f major, op. 72, no.6.

This cd is my favorite, and I have a lot...

Insert Here Any Superlative You Can Think Of.......2004-06-10

For those of you who don't enjoy reading long drawn-out reviews: This is the best CD set I could possibly imagine buying before I bought it. After I bought it, I wept twice in the first listening of just the second disc. The Chopin recordings on this disc are simply legendary, definitive, and indescribably beautiful.

Horowitz out-did even himself at this concert. Sure, wow, wrong notes, even in the first couple measures. Who cares. You had better not. I noticed two exposed wrong notes in my first listen of this disc. It is by far the best CD set I own.

Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major: Sure, wrong note. Grand. I'm not too large a fan of this piece, but, regardless, if you like Bach, you like Horowitz for this recording.

Fantasy in C Major: True to its title, this performance was indeed fantastic. Horowitz is acclaimed most for his different tones on the piano. Let me tell you, that is for a reason.

Scriaban: I, personally, do not like Scriaban. An acquired taste. If you do like him, however, you will by all means enjoy these two recordings of the Black Mass Sonata and the Poeme in F-sharp Major.

The Chopin: The Mazurka is the greatest mazurka recording I have ever heard, period. The Etude is technically flawless and musically flawless. The Ballade. One of my favorite pieces of all time. This is my favorite recording, simply. It is quite, quite unbelievable. I wept. Every theme Chopin includes, Horowitz includes with care. This piece is one that takes a long long long time to figure out. Musically, it is one of the hardest. Horowitz seems to finally understand it after having played it for almost forty years undoubtedly. I have heard roughly 10 or 12 recordings of this piece, and Horowitz's trumps all.

The encores: Debussy, Scriaban, Moszkowski are all wonderful in their own right, but Traumerei is practically Horowitz's child. People in the audience were weeping when they heard this piece. I went in with the intention of not weeping, and failed miserably. It is the singly most beautiful performance I have ever heard.

Buy this set. You will absolutely not regret it.

WHAT IS GOING ON?.......2003-12-27

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? WHY CANT YOU JUST LEAVE THE POOR MAN ALONE? I AM A PIANO STUDENT WHO JUST FINISHED A CONCERT SERIES OUTSIDE OF MY OWN COUNTRY AND I HAVE JUST READ SOME OF THE OTHER REIEWS ABOUT HOROWITZ HERE AND I AM FRANKLY DIGUSTED.
ARE WRONG NOTES ALL YOU PEOPLE LISTEN TO?
HOROWITZ WAS BRILLIANT, YES, BUT HE WAS ALSO HUMAN LIKE ALL OF US. I MAKE MY FAIR SHARE OF WRONG NOTES AND WOULD HATE TO THINK THAT THEY WOULD BE THE ONLY THING THAT AN AUDIENCE WOULD REMEMBER AFTER A CONCERT. WRONG NOTES ARE A PART OF LIFE AND SOMETIMES ITS MORE IMPORTANT TO TAKE RISKS, EVEN IF IT RESULTS IN FAILIURE. ITS WHAT BREATHES LIFE INTO A PERSONS PLAYING, KNOWING THAT ONE SPLIT NOTE OR TWO IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN BEING MORE MUSICAL OR MORE TECHNICAL, I WOULD RATHER BE A MUSICIAN AND NOT A ROBOT.
IN HOROWITZ'S PLAYING, THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO LISTEN TO. SO NEXT TIME YOU SWITCH ON ONE OF HIS RECORDINGS, WHY NOT TRY TO FORGET EVERYTHING YOU HAVE HAD BRAINWASHED INTO YOU ABOUT PERFECTION AND JUST LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART INSTEAD OF YOUR HEAD.

HOROWITZ WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST PERSON TO TELL YOU THAT A PERFECT TECHNIQUE IS A COMPLETE MYTH. EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES, WE CANT BE PERFECT FOR YOU ALL THE TIME, SO JUST GIVE US A BREAK.

Just the Facts..........2003-11-29

This is not a review per se. My review is elsewhere on this page. But I wanted to follow-up and correct a few errors, which have been circulated in regard to this recording.

First, the corrections used on the original version of Horowitz at Carnegie Hall were not made at a "patch session at Carnegie a few days" after the concert. Columbia's engineers had already recorded Horowitz's rehearsals and used that material for the editing.

Second, the editing in the album was neither as extensive as some have suggested, nor as insignificant as the anonymous reviewer from Baltimore states.

Here is a (mostly) complete list of the patches on the original album, which have been removed from this new edition:

Bach-Busoni: Preludio: Measures 2-12 and parts of the coda (Horowitz, by the way, does not play the ossias at bars 8, 10, and 12); Intermezzo: Small patches at bars 7 and 11; Fugue: Several edits between bars 97 and 110, and again in the coda.

Schumann Fantasy: 1st Movement: patches at 7:32 and 10:21; 2nd Movement: small patches at 2:44 and 4:32, and a series of patches in the coda 6:58-7:39; 3rd Movement: No edits.

Scriabin: Sonata No 9: No Edits. Poem in F-sharp: Patch from 2:16-2:26

Chopin: Mazurka: Small edit at 2:02; Etude: Patched sections from 1:27-1:33 and 2:15-2:20; Ballade: Small edits at 2:04 and 4:52, at least four patches in the coda.

None of the encores were edited.

Tracks:

Horowitz Variations on a theme from Carmen
Danse macabre
Sonata No.11, K.331: Rondo alla turca
Wedding march and variations: Liszt - Horowitz Wedding march and variations
Elegie Op.85 No.4: Songs without words - Elegie
Spring Song,Op.62, No 6: Mendelssohn: Spring Song
The Sheperd's Complaint,Op.67,No.5: Mendelssohn: The Sheperd's Complaint
Serenade of the doll: Debussy - Serenade of the doll
Etude In A-flat
Etude,Op.72 No.6 in F: Etude In F
Op.36,No.6: Etincelles
polonaise, Op. 53 In A-flat
C- Traumerei Op.15 No.7: Traumerei
Scherzo a capriccio
Rakoczy March Hungarian Rhapsody No.15: Rakoczy March
Valse oubliee #1: Valse oubliee No. 1
Prelude in G Minor Op.23,No.5: Prelude In G Minor
The Stars And Stripes Forever

Amazon.com

Whether you love Vladimir Horowitz or not, you had to admit that in some showpieces he is incomparable. Here are lots of them: his own Variations on a Theme from Carmen, his souped-up versions of the Danse Macabre and Rakoczy March, and Moszkowski's Sparks. Stars and Stripes Forever sounds as though the pianist had at least three hands--and good ones at that. I never cared for Horowitz's Chopin, and I'm afraid he beats the hell out of the Chopin Polonaise he plays here. But when you want to hear Horowitz the great showman, this is definitely the disc to play. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

What's not to love?.......2007-07-27

Horowitz Encores is a fabulous CD. For those of us in an age group lucky enough to have heard him in person (like me), it brings back exciting live concert memories. For those of you not fortunate enough to have heard him live, it gives you a chance to hear this great master of the keyboard playing with technical wizardry, yet incomparable lyricism and understanding of the material. Horowitz can take a piece that isn't "deep" and make it so. Many listeners and performers today are so focused on mechanical ability and are ready to insult a performer for a few wrong notes, that they forget what true artistry means. It's the interpretation, feeling and energy that really count the most! That's what you'll get with this CD, as well as others of his recordings. A bland yet mechanically perfect performance is a bore. You'll never get that from Horowitz! Part of what makes his performances so special is how a different personality seems to emerge from each individual composition being played, coupled with his uncanny ability to do things with sound and pedalling that no one else seems to be able to accomplish. His compositional talents are of course evident here in his own arrangements and adaptations presented in this collection. I own the original LP, and although the selections are almost the same, they have left out the Prokofiev "Toccata" for this CD. What a shame as it is an astounding performance. This CD is perfect for seasoned listeners and for those both young and old who want to develop a sense of sound and style. So play this recording and have yourself a piano lesson from the Master!

Irresistable.......2006-02-17

Vladimir Horowitz was a master programmer, for the formal recital, and for an informal recital of encores after the printed program was finished. His first encore would invariably be a restful, contemplative piece, with contrasting fireworks to follow. Not every piece on this CD, recorded from 1942-1981, was used by Horowitz for encore material, and the emphasis here is on fireworks.

The works on this CD can be divided into three categories: Horowitz's arrangements of orchestra pieces, double hyphenated elaborations by Horowitz of Liszt transcriptions, and "straight" piano music.

Horowitz's Variations on a Theme from Bizet's Carmen followed him throughout most of his career. None of Horowitz's seven recordings (including two piano roles, three studio recordings [1928 this one from 1947, and 1957], and two televised performances) are quite the same, as Horowitz was constantly revising and refining this piece.

As an expression of gratitude and pride at becoming an American citizen, Horowitz concocted an arrangement of Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever--which he premiered in 1945 at I Am An American Day in New York's Central Park. By playing the piece at a true march tempo (rather than the scherzo-like tempo used in most orchestral performances) Horowitz is able to perform nearly very detail of Sousa's orchestration--including the piccolo flourishes at the climax.

Both Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre and the Mendelsson-Liszt Wedding March are enhancements of Liszt's arrangements which would have made even that 19th Century titan gasp. Likewise Horowitz's total reworking of Liszt's Rakóczy March (which really sounds more like an arrangement of Berlioz's orchestral version), which takes demonism to new levels.

Yet there is an intimate side to Horowitz's playing which can be forgotten in the virtuosic sound & fury. The three Mendelssohn Songs Without Words are played with a lyrical simplicity. The inner voices of Schumann's Träumerai wake up and stretch while the piece dreams away. Horowitz's performance of Debussy's Serenade of the Doll makes one wish he had recorded the entire Children's Corner. He did record the complete Mozart Sonata in A, K. 331 years after the exerpt included here, and unlike the standard performance here, played the Rondo alla turca at a true march tempo.

Horowitz's performances of Moszkowski are so well known that it's difficult to think of the composer without thinking of the pianist. Yet he only recorded three pieces, all included here. Over fifty years after their issue, they remain benchmarks among piano recordings.

Not every performance on this CD shows Horowitz at his best. Chopin's A-flat Polonaise is effortlessly tossed-off, yet somehow misses the majesty Rubinstein brought to this piece. Both Mendelssohn's Scherzo a capriccio and Rachmaninoff's G minor Prelude have labored moments. Yet even off form Horowitz is better than many another pianist's best efforts.

The sound varies on this CD, and most of it is in mono. Many of these pieces had been dropped from Horowitz's repertoire by the stereo era. But as examples of masterful exploitation of the piano's resources, exciting interpretation, and brilliant--even manic--performance, this compilation transcends any sonic limitations.

true to its title.......2005-03-24

Horowitz plays these gems with the brilliance that can only come from his hands. "Technique" is the operative word here, and you can find it in abundance. Several of these pieces are Horowitz arrangements of pieces in the classical repertory (ie, Variations on a theme from Carmen, Danse Macabre, Wedding March, Racokzy March, Stars and Stripes, etc.). It is in these arrangements that Horowitz' technique flames overwhelmingly. Others are performances of pieces in their original form (Alla Turca March, Chopin Polonaise, Elegy, Midsummer Night's Dream, etc.). It is in these latter pieces that one finds light, sweet treats that tantalize our auditory "taste buds."

Dont expect anything heavy, profound, or deep-thinking. Encores were meant to be light, showy, brilliant gems of limited significance musically.

Suffers much from poor quality.......2002-09-02

Its a shame that Horowitz was in retirement through most of the "golden age" of recording in the 60's. I didn't discover 'til I had it unwrapped (and non-returnable) that most of the pieces on this disk are simply transfers from old 78's, and Horowitz's magical piano dynamics are simply gone. This one is only for the true afficianados, scholars, and historical buffs. Buy it for the historic value, but not the sound; which is terrible.

The Encore is more important than you might think!.......2002-07-09

These are famous Horowitz encores. They are not the titanic pieces he became famous or historically important for, but they are the pieces that made him popular with the public. Some are his own transcriptions, and every performance is his own.

As one reviewer below said well, the encore was a special part of the recital that had its own demands and expectations. Having attended many recitals in my life I can tell you that it is a part of the recital art form that could use some revival. It isn't enough to simply flash and toss off little musical candies. That isn't what these are.

Nor do you want to lay on something with too much weight that detracts from what you did during the main recital. However, you want to send the audience away happy, impressed, and with a sense of delight with the performer and their recital experience.

Each of these pieces accomplished those goals. And Horowitz has a lot to teach all of us.

Tracks:

Left Brain Ambassadors
Wonderful World
Sedated
Angel Of Betrayal
Blessed
Per Aspera Ad Astra
Save Your Soul
Until The Morning
Escaping The Fools
On Dark Rivers
The Goddess
Mantra

Customer Reviews:

Woefully underappreciated.......2002-01-22

Heavy, groove oriented Hard Rock.

After listening to Spiritual Beggars you become painfully aware of what is wrong with American radio. Here is a band that should be getting Heavy rotation and filling arenas but instead they get no stateside airplay[...] 'Angel of Betrayal' has single written all over it.

They have recently parted ways with their bassist/singer Spice, adding in his stead the singer from an obscure band named Grand Magus.

Michael Amott. Arch Enemy?No...Spiritual Beggars.......2001-03-13

As an Arch Enemy fan I am I was wandering what kind of stuff was Michael Amott doing in S.Beggars.He is so talented that it seems that everywhere he goes finds success (Carcass, Carnage, Arch Enemy). You'll find here a Michael Amott leaving his death-metal roots and playing stoner-rock, very well executed, of course. Stoner-rock fulfills the atmosphere of this CD(see the cover) with cool songs and background keyboards.I'm not into Stoner-rock, but I like this album (listen to the guitars and tell me who is playing). It sounds really heavy. If you're an Arch Enemy fan take a look at this album. It'll rock your world!

Average customer rating:

Speechless
81 Years Young
Who cares that Horowitz was past his prime?
Hear the origins of modern music -

Horowitz: The Last Romantic

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Horowitz in Moscow
Horowitz: Discovered Treasures
Horowitz At Home
Horowitz: The Last Recording
Vladimir Horowitz: The Studio Recordings - New York 1985

ASIN: B000001G76
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Chorale Prelude 'Nun komm'der Heiden Heiland': Adagio
Piano Sonata In C Major: 1. Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata In C Major: 2. Andante cantabile - Mozart
Piano Sonata In C Major: 3. Allegretto - Mozart
Mazurka In A Minor, op.17 no.4: Lento, ma non troppo
Scherzo no.1 In B Minor, op.20: Presto con fuoco
Improptu In A Flat Major, D 899 no.4 (op.90 no.4): Allegretto
Consolation no.3 In D Flat Major: Lento placido
Novellette In F Major, op.21 no.1: Markiert und kraftig
Prelude In G Sharp Minor: Allegro
Etude In C Sharp Minor, op.2 no.1: Andante
Polonaise no.6 In A Flat Major, op.53: Maestoso
Etude In F Major, op.72 no.6: Presto

Customer Reviews:

Speechless.......2007-03-06

Towards the end of his career as a pianist as well as his life, Horowitz's playing reached such peaks of wisdom and beauty that it defies any attempt at description and ultimately renders the human language completely powerless and unable to fully capture and express its vast world of ideas and feelings. On his last recordings he doesn't emerge as an elderly pianist who was sadly past his prime, but rather as a consumate musician who had reached by then the pinnacle of his art and therefore was capable of getting from his piano the most exquisite and profound statements one's able to listen to in the whole piano discography of the 20th century. He imbues his rendition of the famous Chopin's Polonaise Héroïque with so much emotional power and intellectual depth that he turns it into something like a highly condensed philosophical treatise written in poetry. Don't miss it by any chance.

81 Years Young.......2005-11-18

The career of Vladimir Horowitz had many ups and downs. When he retired after a series of disastrous concerts in 1983, very few thought he would ever play again. It was learned that Horowitz's was off his game during that time due to anti-depressant medication which affected his memory and coordination. Horowitz dropped the medications in 1984, and spent much of that year enduring withdrawal symptoms. He didn't begin practicing again until late-1984.

By 1985, he felt well enough to begin performing again, but didn't want to immediately face a live audience. It was decided that a documentary would be made, and thus "Vladimir Horowitz: The Last Romantic," filmed in the pianist's townhouse, came to fruition. The performances in this CD are taken from that film, although in some cases different takes were used.

Horowitz, 81 years young at the time, plays well here--although his performance is not quite on the same level it would be one year later at his legendary Moscow recital. The Bach-Busoni Chorale, Mozart Sonata, and Schumann Novelette reveal the playing of a grand master in sovereign command of his resources. The Bach-Busoni is especially noteworthy for Horowitz's ability to separate musical lines. The Chopin Mazurka and Liszt Consolation are wonderfully poetic, and the Rachmaninoff Prelude is appropriately brooding.

It must be admitted however, some of the more bravura pieces do not match his best playing from earlier years. The Chopin Scherzo betrays hints of frailty (although some of the tempos are astonishing), and the "Heroic" Polonaise is taken at a rather cautious tempo. Any doubt about the coordination of Horowitz's fingers, however, will be banished by the Moszkowski Etude. Lightning fast, with very little pedal, the pianist reportedly did it in one take.

The sound is rather airless and confined, but clean and focused.

Who cares that Horowitz was past his prime?.......2002-07-09

This is the sound recording of a famous video of Horowitz performing in his home. There is a great deal to love on this disk. The Bach/Busoni is tremendously beautiful. The Mozart is just wonderful as is the Chopin Mazurka.

The Scherzo shows that Horowitz was once a titan of the keyboard, but as he himself says in the video "pretty good for an old man". The resto of the program are other shorter pieces that show Horowitz's remaining strengths - his tone color, his line, his interpretive abilities.

This is a great disk to have and is an important historical disk of one of the all time great pianists even if it is in his old age. The charisma pours out and you know why he was still selling out any auditorium whenever he cared to play.

Hear the origins of modern music -.......2000-01-25

This is a phenomenal CD. First, there is the sound, this recording is crystal clear, the piano is in your listening room with you. The difference between the sound of the new digital recordings and at least some of the older recordings is like day and night.

Then there is Horowitz. Before Horowitz, I could not discern the intent of classical music. But with Horowitz, you hear not only the notes but also the intention behind the notes, it's as if Horowitz is a master operator behind the glass booth, and he controls the technical facilities necessary to produce the sound with no effort, making it bend to reflect his every nuanced emotion. With Horowitz you hear emotion and personality; is it how Mozart, or Chopin, would have played it? Who knows, could be. Maybe not, but it has a depth and complexity that brings the music to life.

And of course there is Horowitz's famous touch and technique. Fully revealed on this disc.

But it is the program that really knocks me out. The first track is a Bach Choral Prelude, which sounds like its name implies. Peaceful, reflective, and then finally moving to a heart wrenching poignancy anchored by left hand octaves. Next comes a three part Sonata by Mozart. Here we can picture a Viennese ball, with singing and dancing. Music full of exuberance and joy in the first and third sections, and calm reflection in the second, with some fairly strong opinions stated with the help of left hand octaves. This is classical music at its finest.

The hammer drops with the third selection (fifth track), Chopin's "Mazurka in A minor". The tempo is uncertain, the chords have only a few close notes, and the first phrase seems tentative and unfinished. Modern music! Completely neurotic, and in stark contrast to the Mozart that preceded it. The melancholic ruminations give way to a tranquil melodic section which is then called up short, and then repeats, and then is ended with a sharply stuck dissonance; the remainder of the piece is completely unsettled, with the dominant emotion changing every few bars. This piece could be played in a piano bar today, and reminds me of Bill Evans' "Peace Piece".

If the "Mazurka in A minor" was the anguished neurotic of modern music, the next piece, Chopin's "Scherzo in A minor", is the raving lunatic bouncing off the asylum walls. This music reflects wild abandon. Two handed banging, with ferocious runs and arpeggios. The first section is a rollercoaster ride. This music is as wild as any modern jazz, and in fact, it sounds to me (a big Coltrane fan) like Trane could have copped some of his licks from this piece. The second section is, as I understand, taken from a Polish Christmas song. This time Chopin plays it straight, a calm in the midst of the storm, a beauty you can feel. But, the storm does return before the piece ends. This may have been one of the pieces written in the aftermath of a failed love affair.

Tracks:

Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled

Amazon.com

It's easy to speak of music in visual terms: line, texture, color. But ambient artists Stars of the Lid have gone a step further, incorporating field recordings of New York experimental line painter Jon McCafferty at work in his studio into their dark, isolationist sound tableaus. This was done as McCafferty painted the album's cover while listening to the band's music. It's an oddly compelling marriage; Stars of the Lid have always suggested the foreboding side of ambient pioneers like Robert Rich or Steve Roach, gliding sheets of tonal texture that evoke hidden spaces and endless corridors. McCafferty's paintings use stain, urethane, and vibrant colors around rich bands of vertical lines, and his titles often contain the Swedish word purl (the sound of water flowing). Using cellos, electric guitars, synthesizers, and other sound sources, Stars of the Lid conjure the common reflective properties of both McCafferty's work and their own. --James Rotondi

Customer Reviews:

Impressive.......2007-03-09

This is impressive. Truly beautiful music that makes you think of wind blowing through branches during a winter storm, and I offer that hippie sh-t image only to contrast the effigy of what I think of when I hear pop music, i.e., plastic, clear cut space for the new mall, etc.

for packaging.......2003-12-05

Hey man, if you can't get the CD out of its case - try harder. The packaging company isn't purposely trying to piss you off - I don't think they would with the small amount of money they make off SOTL records and other indie bands.

4 stars for music, -1 star for packaging.......2003-09-05

This music's good, really good, although at 40 minutes, it could be longer. Nice drifting ambient reminiscent of Steve Roach and Robert Rich. My problem is with the packaging. The disc is in one those annoying cardboard holders with no sleeves. It's tucked on the inside so you can hardly get the disc out and when you do, it's sure to scratch the disc. For the money we pay for music, you'd think these meatheads would smarten up. And they wonder why people burn music?

Adrift in space.......2002-01-14

Per Aspera Ad Astra is a relatively short album (EP?) at just over 40 minutes, but that shouldn't deter you from buying it. This is some of Stars of the Lid's best work - smooth, comforting, but simultaneously a lot more interesting than most of the ambient music it's competing with. It really is evocative of the sky at night, and introduces such radical things as violins and - gasp - percussion into the SotL vocabulary.

Tracks:

Polonaise - Fantasie, Op. 61, In A-flat Major
Sonata, K 127, L. 186 In A - flat Major
Sonata, K. 87, L. 33, In B Minor
Sonata, K. 135, L. 224, In E Major
Humoresque, Op. 10, No. 5
Scherzo No. 1, Op. 20, In B Minor
Etude, Op. 10, No. 4, In C-sharp Minor
Etincelles, Op. 36, No. 6
Prelude, Op. 23, No. 5, in G Minor: Prelude, Op. 23, No. 5
Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 3, in B Major
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
Nocturne, Op. 27, No. 1, In C - sharp Minor
Scherzo No. 2, Op. 31, In B-flat Minor
Etude, Op. 72, No. 6, In F Major
Variations On A Theme From 'Carmen'

Tracks:

Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Barcarolle, Op. 60, In F-sharp Major
Etude, Op. 2, No. 1, In C-sharp Minor
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 5, In G Major
Nocturne, Op. 72, No. 1, In E Minor
Etude, Op. 8, No. 7, In B-flat Minor
Barcarolle, Op. 10, No. 3
Polonaise, Op. 53, In A-flat Major
Rakoczy March (Hungarian Rhapsody No. 15)
Etude, Op. 8, No. 12, In D-sharp Minor
Etude, Op. 25, No. 7, In C-sharp Minor
Ballade No. 1, Op. 23, In G Minor
Etude, Op. 42, No. 5, In C-sharp Minor
The Stars And Stripes Forever

Customer Reviews:

Top ten of any performance ever!.......2004-07-08

We made sure our home had hardwood floors just so we could enjoy this performance at its absolute best. Listen to it at lifelike volume and enjoy the ride: it sounds like it could unravel at any moment, but it never does. So many performances of this work are technically stunning, but tremendously dull. Horowitz brings this piece to life like no other pianist. But, if you can find it, Lazar Berman's recording for CBS was stunning.

Largely Dispensable.......2004-06-12

Beginning with a rather tinny Polonaise-Fantaisie, Horowitz follows it up with three relatively stunning Scarlatti sonatas. I am terrified by his reading of the Rachmaninoff G Minor prelude, he uses practically NO pedal at all. The Hungarian Rhapsody by Liszt is borderlining on out of control throughout, as is typical by Horowitz. The Chopin B Major Nocturne is one of the few highlights on this first disc.

Horowitz's Mephisto Waltz has always been horrific, blaring and, dare I say, bangy. I still can not fathom how the greatest pianist of the twentieth century could play a piece so poorly! The highlights of the second disc are certainly the Scriaban preludes. In concurrence with a previous reviewer, the Chopin Ballade is by no means acceptable. If you are looking for the best recording of this piece, Horowitz Live and Unedited, the recording of the 1965 Carnegie Hall return concert, is absolutely unsurpassable.

RCA squeaked out a three-star rating with some fine selections, but others are, simply . . . not good. If you are looking for Horowitz at his best, the previously mentioned "Live and Unedited" CD is the best of his I own, out of about 12 CD's.

A Mix of Sensitive, Passionate, and Vulgar Playing..........2003-07-07

Horowitz has always been a controversial figure in the music world, and this CD can help explain why. It abounds in obscene playing of Chopin (it's an almost painful experience to listen to the reading of the first Ballade) and contains some ridiculously eccentric Liszt (it sounds as if Horowitz plays the last two chords of the first Mephisto Waltz with his elbows). Apart from these shenanagins, however, Horowitz offers up several sparkling Scarlatti Sonatas, beautifully passionate Scriabin Etudes, and demonically exciting original transcriptions such as The Stars and Stripes Forever and the Carmen Variations. The two other Liszt selections are also very entertaining. My rating of three stars is based on the overall quality of playing on this particular album and not on my opinion of Horowitz in general. Still, this recording is worth the money for the few treats I have mentioned.

Great value!.......2003-06-08

This is a great value double-CD album. Horowitz is my top pianist. Not only do I enjoy the boundless passions of his playing, but I also find in his rich range of expressions something beyond techniques and maturity that other pianists cannot rival. This is an ideal album for anyone who wants to experience the colours and virtuosity of the renowned pianist.

Simply Great!.......2003-06-06

Complete Masterworks Recordings, 1962-1973

Average customer rating:

Horowitz: good. Amazon: good. Sony Classical: BAD.
ARE YOU CRAZY RICH OR CRAZY STUPID?
merely spectacular!
I have never regretted buying this...
The greatest 20th Cent. pianist at his best!

Complete Masterworks Recordings, 1962-1973

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon
Chopin: The Piano Works
Liszt: Piano Works
Horowitz: Discovered Treasures
Horowitz Live and Unedited [includes Bonus DVD]

ASIN: B000002909
Release Date: 1993-10-05

Tracks:

Sonata In E Major, K 531 (L430): Allegro
Sonata In A Major, K322 (L483): Allegro
Sonata In G Major K455 (L209): Allegro
Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': II. Adagio cantabile
Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': III. Rondo. Allegro
Impromptu In G-flat Major, Op. 90 (D899) No. 3: Andante
Etude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12: Allegro con fuoco
Etude In C-sharp Minor, Op. 25 No. 7: Lento
Scherzo No. 1 In B Minor, Op. 20: Presto con fuoco
3 Preludes - From Book II: IV. Les fees sont d'exquises danseuses. Rapide et leger
3 Preludes - From Book II: V. Bruyeres. Calme
3 Preludes - From Book II: VI. General Lavine - eccentric.
Poeme In F-sharp Major, Op. 32 No. 1: Andante cantabile
Etude In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: Andante
Etude In D-Sharp Minor, Op. 8 No. 12: Patetico

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: I. Grave- Doppio movimento
Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: II. Scherzo
Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: III. Marche funebre. Lento
Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: IV. Finale. Presto
Etude-Tableau In C, Op.33 No.2: Allegro
Etude-Tableau In C, Op.33 No.2: Appassionato
Arabeske In C, Op.18: Leicht und zart
Kinderszenen, Op.15 - Scenes From Childhood: 1. Von fremden Landern und Menschen
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 2. Kuriose Geschichte
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 3. Hansche-Mann
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 4. Bittendes Kind
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 5. Gluckes genug
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 6. Wichtige Begbenheit
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 7. Traumerei
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 8. Am Kamin
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 9. Ritter vom Steckenpferd
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 10. Fast zu ernst
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 11. Furchtenmachen
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 12. Kind im Einschlummern
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 13. Der Dichter spricht
Toccata In C, Op.7: Allegro
Hungarian Rhapsody No.19 In D Minor: Lento patetico (Lassan)- Vivace (Friska)

Tracks:

Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante moderato
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegretto
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante e cantabile
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante e cantabile
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante moderato
Keyboard Sonatas: Vivo
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro

Tracks:

Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: I. Preludio, quasi improvvisando. Tempo moderato
Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: II. Intermezzo. Adagio
Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: III. Fuga. Moderamente sherzando, un poco umoristico
Fantasie In C, Op.17: I. Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschalflich vorzutragen
Fantasie In C, Op.17: II. Massig. Durchaus energisch
Fantasie In C, Op.17: III. Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten
Piano Sonata No.9, Op.68 'Black Mass': Moderato quasi andante-Molto meno vivo-Allegro-Piu vivo-Allegro...
Poeme In F-Sharp Major, Op.32 No.1: Andante cantibile

Tracks:

Mazurka In C-sharp Minor, Op. 30. No. 4: Allegretto
Etude In F major, Op. 10 No. 8: Allegro
Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23: Largo - Moderato - Meno mosso - Presto con fuoco
Serenade For The Doll. Allegro ma non troppo
Etude In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: Andante
Etude In A-Flat Major, Op. 72 No. 11: Presto e con leggierezza
Traumerei
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K.331: I. Tema.Andante grazioso e variazioni
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K. 331: II. Menuetto - Trio
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K. 331: III. Rondo alla Turca
Polonaise-Fantaisie In A-Flat Major, Op. 61: Allegro maestoso

Tracks:

Mazurka In B minor, Op. 33 No. 4: Mesto
Nocturne In E Minor, Op. 72 No. 1: Andante
Piano Sonata No. 10, Op. 70: Moderato - Allegro - Puissant, radieux - Allegro - Piu vivo - Presto - Moderato
Piano Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI: 23: I. Allegro
Piano Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI: 23: II. Adagio
Piano Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI: 23: III. Finale
Blumenstuck In D-Flat Major, Op. 19: Leise bewegt
L'ISLE JOYEUSE: Quasi una cadenza - Tempo.
Vallee d'Obermann: Lento assai - Piu lento - Un poco piu di moto ma sempre lento - Presto - Lento

Tracks:

Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23: Largo - Moderato - Meno mosso - Presto con fuoco
Nocturne In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1: Andante
Polonaise In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 44: Tempo di polacca - Doppio movimento, tempo di Mazurka - Tempo I
Sonata In E major, K 380 (L23): Andante commodo
Sonata In G major, K 55 (L335): Allegro
Arabeske In C Major, Op. 18: Leicht und zart
Etude In D-Sharp Minor, Op. 8 No. 12: Patetico
Traumerei
Variations On A Theme From Bizet's Opera 'Carmen'

Tracks:

Sonata In E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 2: III. Rondo
Adagio sostenuto In F Major
Sonata In B-Flat Major, Op. 25 No. 3: II. Rondo
Sonata In A Major, Op. 50 No. 1: II. Adagio
Corale Prelude 'Lch ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ'
Sonata In F-Sharp Major, K 319 (L35): Allegro
Sonata In G Major, K 260 (L124): Allegro
Sonata In C Major, HOB. XVI: 48: I. Andante con espressione
Sonata In C major, Hob. XVI:48: II. Rondo
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: I. Allegretto ma non troppo
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: II. Vivace alla Marcia
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: III. Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto - Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 'Moonlight': I. Adagio sostenuto
II. Allegretto
Piano Sonata No. 14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2'Moonlight': III. Presto agitato
Piano Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 , 'Waldstein-Sonata': I. Allegro con brio
Piano Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 , 'Waldstein-Sonata': II. Introduzione. Adagio molto - attacca
Piano Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 , 'Waldstein-Sonata': III. Rondo. Allegro moderato - Prestissimo
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': I. Allegro assai
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': II. Andante con moto -attacca
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': III. Allegro, ma non troppo - Presto

Tracks:

Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17 No. 4: Lento, ma non troppo
Etude in G-flat major, Op. 10 No. 5: Vivace
Introduction & Rondo In E-Flat Major, Op. 16: Introduzione. Andante - Rondo. Allegro vivace
Waltz in A minor, Op. 34 No. 2: Lento
Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53: Maestoso
Mazurka in F-sharp minor, Op. 59 No. 3: Vivace
Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 50 No. 3: Moderato
Mazurka in D-flat major, Op. 30 No. 3: Allegro non troppo
Mazurka in E minor, Op. 41 No. 2: Andantino
Mazurka in D major, Op. 33 No. 2: Vivace
Etude in C-sharp minor, Op. 10 No. 4: Presto
Etude in E major, Op. 10 No. 3: Lento, ma non troppo
Etude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12: Allegro con fuoco
Prelidu In B Minor, Op. 28 No. 6: Lento assai

Tracks:

Posonaise in A major, Op. 40 No. 1: Allegro con brio
Prelude in D-flat major, Op. 28 No. 15: Sostenuto
Etude in E-flat minor, Op. 10 No. 6: Andante
Etude No. 2 in A-flat major from 'Trois Nouvelles Etudes': Allegretto
Mazurka In F Minor, Op. 7 No. 3
Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64 No. 2: Tempo giusto
Variations On A Theme By Clara Wieck From Sonata No. 3 In F Minor,Op. 14: Andantino
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: I. Ausserst bewegt
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: II.Sehr innig
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: III. Sehr aufgeregt
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: IV. Sehr langsam
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: V. Sehr lebhaft
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: VI. Sehr langsam
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: VII. Sehr rasch
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: VIII. Schnell und spielend

Tracks:

Impromptu In A-Flat Major Op. 90 (D899) No. 4: Allegretto
Impromptu In F Minor Op. 142 (D935) No. 1: Allegro moderato
Impromptu In A-Flat Major Op. 142 (935) No. 2: Allegretto
Impromptu In E-Flat Major Op. 90 (D899) No. 2: Allegro
Consolation In E Major S. 172 (R.12) No. 2
Pour les arpeges composes: Dolce e lusingando
La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune: Lent
Etude In A Minor Op. 104b No. 3: Allegro vivace
Scherzo & March S. 177 (R.20)

Tracks:

Feuillet d'album In E-Flat Major Op. 45 No. 1: Andante piacevole
Etude In F-Sharp Minor Op. 8 No. 2: A capriccio, con forza
Etude In B-Flat Minor Op. 8 No. 11: Andante cantabile
Etude In D-Flat Major Op. 8 No. 10: Allegro
Etude In A-Flat Major Op. 8 No. 8: Lento (Tempo rubato)
Etude In F-Sharp Major Op. 42 No 3: Prestissimo
Etude In F-Sharp Major Op. 42 No. 4: Andante
Etude In C-Sharp Minor Op. 42 No. 5: Affannato
Etude Op. 65 No. 3: Molto vivace
No. 1: Allegretto
2 Poemes Op. 69: No. 2: Allegretto
Vers la flamme Op. 72: Allegro moderato
Feuillet d'album Op. 58
Fairy Tale In A Major Op. 51 No. 3
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor Op. 36: I. Allegro agitato
Sonata No. 2 In B-flat, Minor, Op. 36: II. Non allegro
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 36: III. Allegro molto
Prelude In G-Sharp Minor Op. 32 No. 12: Allegro
Moment musical In B Minor Op. 16 No. 3: Andante cantabile
Etude-Tableau In E-Flat Minor Op. 33 No. 5: Non allegro - Presto
Etude-Tableau In C Major Op. 33 No. 2: Allegro
Etude-Tableau In D Major Op. 39 No. 9: Allegro moderato (Tempo di Marcia)

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:

Horowitz: good. Amazon: good. Sony Classical: BAD........2004-05-24

I bought this set in December, and because I have so many classical CD's (more than 300), it took me 5 months to realize that the set contained TWO volume 8's and NO volume 9's. Worried that it might be too late, I e-mailed Amazon. Their first reply was that the replacement was already on its way (with return shipping paid for as well). Wow, that was a relief!

When I got the new set, I decided to study it closely and make sure that everything was good. It turns out that several of the discs (in both sets) had holes through the aluminum reflective layer -- which seemed to be because it was too thin to begin with. One disc was cracked, and another looked like the aluminum was "rotting out" on the edge. You would think that for $230, Sony Classical would put more quality into their discs. So what good is "Super Bit Mapping" and "High Definition Remastering" if the discs are so cheap that the player will misread the data? And I don't have much confidence that the discs will last many years, either.

Fortunately I got to pick the best discs from the 2 sets, so I won't need to replace this one for another. But I certainly lost respect for Sony Classical.

And kudos to you Amazon; you're really looking out for your customers!

ARE YOU CRAZY RICH OR CRAZY STUPID?.......2002-08-25

Why would any one in the right mind plunk down [money] for 13 CDS by the same pianist? Is it so you can brag about owning 11 years' worth of the same old thing? Or did you get it as a gift designed to impress but not really to listened to? Now you could probably get [money] for it whether you used it or not. Columbia Masterworks should have brought along new and younger talent. For my bet I can't think of many American pianists who are currently recording. Do we have to recycle Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Schubert, Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, Scriabin, and others over and over? This is the Twenty-first Century. We should at least be thinking of Twentieth Century piano works. I can get 10 CDs by 10 pianists currently recording if I look to Europe.

merely spectacular!.......2001-03-10

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.

I have never regretted buying this..........2000-08-22

Considering that this set is devoted to a single instrument played by one artist in a 12-year period, the depth is mind-blowing. If variety is the spice of life, than this set is a very warming set indeed.

For the most part, Horowitz communicates a deep respect for the specific style of each composer: his Scarlatti is done articulately and without any smear with the pedal. His Liszt is demonic. His Rachmaninov is dazzling, with all of the "superfluous" notes (!) and Russian virtuosity in tact. Horowitz's Schumann is sensitive, passionate and Romantic.

And then there are his interpretations of Chopin. To me, Vladimir Horowitz is one of Chopin's best ambassadors. In particular, I draw attention to the Polonaise-Fantaisie in Vol. 3 and the mazurkas and etudes of Vol. 7.

For a good summary of this collection, listen to Vol. 4, "The Legendary 1968 TV Concert." Applause is omitted between selections, and the repertoire is tailored to Horowitz's pianistic gifts.

The first disc of Vol. 3 (Including the Bach-Busoni Toccata and the Schumann Fantasy) is not top-notch piano-playing... It's a little sloppy and inaccurate. I'm sure there are other minor slips elsewhere in this collection, but here they are most obviously seen.

Regardless, this collection is a MUST for Horowitz fans. Save up your money little by little and go and buy it. It is truly the most rewarding purchase of classical music I have ever made.

The greatest 20th Cent. pianist at his best!.......2000-04-15

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!

Average customer rating:

Portrait Of Vladimir Horowitz

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Horowitz: Discovered Treasures
Horowitz At Home
Horowitz: The Last Recording
Horowitz in Moscow
Horowitz at the Met

ASIN: B0000026PA
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Sonata, L. 430 (K.532)
Sonata, L. 483 (K.322)
Sonata No. 11, K. 331: I - Tema: Andante grazioso
Sonata No. 11, K. 331: II - Menuetto
Sonata No. 11, K. 331: III - Alla Turca: Allegretto
Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, No. 2 ('Moonlight'): I - Adagio sostenuto
Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, No. 2 ('Moonlight'): II - Allegretto
Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, No. 2 ('Moonlight'): III - Presto agitato
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 ('Funeral March'): I - Grave; Doppio movimento
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 ('Funeral March'): II - Scherzo
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 ('Funeral March'): III - Marche Funebre:Lento
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 ('Funeral March'): IV - Presto
Etude, Op. 72, No 11
Etude, Op. 8, No. 12
Kinderscenen, Op. 15: Traumerei
Variations On A Theme From Bitzet's Carmen

Average customer rating:

AAA are amazing.
Lilys Time Capsule
Too quick, the split
lilys are great, aspera ad astra is boring

The Lilys/Aspera Ad Astra
Lilys , and Aspera Ad Astra
Manufacturer: Tiger Style
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Everything Wrong Is Imaginary

ASIN: B00004SU8G
Release Date: 2000-05-16

Tracks:

Elsa
Coby
Timber
Hymn
Good Beat Down
Bring Back The Walls
Feed The Fantasy
Tin Pan Miracles

Customer Reviews:

AAA are amazing........2002-11-22

Aspera ad Astra/The Lily's most recent split album had to be the most amazing piece of work that a group has released lately. It's INSANE!!! and deserves your attention. When i first heard it, I just knew that I had to share my joy, so please go get it..it deserves a listen!!

Lilys Time Capsule.......2000-06-30

This album isn't really new, it's a split EP with new tracks by Aspera Ad Astra and 4 Lilys tracks recorded in Philadelphia in 1993 & 1994. Still, it's nothing we've really heard before from Lilys. Musically it falls somewhere in between A Brief History of Amazing Letdowns and Esscame The Photon Band. Fortunately, the Aspera Ad Astra tracks pick up where Lilys seemed to leave off with a pleasing sound not unlike recent Ladybug Transistor stuff you may have heard. Overall, the Lilys tracks are sweet, catchy shoegazer rock from yesteryear. Unfortunately they don't seem to work on me the way that they did back then.

Too quick, the split.......2000-06-27

A split CD with fellow Philly band Aspera Ad Astra. The Lilys material stems from late '93, early '94 sessions, after A Brief History of Amazing Letdowns and before (or possibly concurrent with) Eccsame the Photon Band. The Lilys' tunes are quite "Eccsamey" in their similarly subdued, emotive way. Coby has more of a My Bloody Valentine derived friskiness, whining guitar and descending structure. Timber feels like a lighter, skating style of Ginger with its particularly familiar riff and change. Even with its suitably repetitive phrasing, Hymn is more familiar territory, as is the opener Elsa. Of the Aspera Ad Astra tracks, Good Beat Down showscases a bit of a madcap Mercury Rev/Rollerskate Skinny affinity. Atmospherically shuddery with estranged, shuddery vocal. AAA has nice instincts of their own. Bring Back the Walls is a standout. At times a more strident guitar-driven Death Cab For Cutie but with finely honed, gnashing chops that would be out of place there I think. This sampler/lost tapes affair is a mixed bag and way too short unfortunately. It does the trick as an introduction to Aspera Ad Astra (the tracks were recorded in Feb of 2000) but isn't the most righteous purchase for someone looking into the Lilys for the first time. Lilys enthusiasits only please.

For a bio on AAA and other info check out tigerstylerecords.com .

lilys are great, aspera ad astra is boring.......2000-06-22

The Lilys have always been a great band. This record is no exception. If you like shoegaze/dreampop stuff, you'll definitely dig the lilys.

The AAA songs, however, are very slow and boring. There is an element of the Flaming Lips here, but hardly the energy the lips have. It is just very drab and very boring. However, I will say that their tour EP that insound put out is well worth getting...it is really good...these tracks just didn't live up to what I hoped they would be.

Catapult Calypso
Average customer rating:

WOW!

Catapult Calypso
Ad Astra Per Aspera
Manufacturer: Sonic Unyon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000I0QKNI
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Tracks:

Voodoo Economics
Post-Scarcity Sing-A-Long
Scatter Baby Spiders!
Nothing Else Is the Real Thing
Unnamed Acoustic Songs
Glosbos Illuminados
Fish Would Much Rather Swim
Everybody Lets Me Down
Romantic One
Flannery's Coming Home

Customer Reviews:

WOW!.......2007-05-24

I can honestly say I've never heard music quite like this. A beautiful indie album that sample just about every genre out there including punk, jazz, and even a little folk. Every song is great, but I would recomend Post-Scarcity Sing-A-Long, Fish Would Much Rather Swim, & Voodoo Economics as songs that you absolutely must listen too.

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