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Vladimir Horowitz

Russian and American pianist (1903-1989) · United States · Musicians · Died at 86

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A pianist whose fingers could make a Steinway whisper or roar, command a hall's silence or send it to its feet - the kind of technician who turned recitals into events people waited years to see.

MusiciansSinger / MusicianClassicalMusicUnited StatesAmericas20th Century

A life in dates

1993Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)Award1990Grammy Lifetime Achievement AwardAward1989Died5 November 1989Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)Award, 19891988Grammy Award for Best Classical AlbumAward1987“I was impressed mostly by Gieseking [Horowitz said in 1987]. He had a finished style, played with elegance, and had a fine musical mind.”In their wordsquoted in Harold C. Schonberg, Horowitz: his life and music

Grammy Award for Best Classical AlbumAward1982Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)Award1979Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)Award1974Royal Philharmonic Society Gold MedalAward1973Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)Award1972Grammy Award for Album of the YearAward1968Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)Award1966Grammy Award for Album of the YearAward1964Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)Award1963Grammy Award for Album of the YearAward1903Born1 October 1903

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

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In their own words 6

,
Vladimir Horowitz
,
6 statements, newest first

  1. I was impressed mostly by Gieseking [Horowitz said in 1987]. He had a finished style, played with elegance, and had a fine musical mind.

    1987, quoted in Harold C. Schonberg, Horowitz: his life and music, Own words

  2. Interesting pianist, but I think he is just a little bit meshuga.

    On Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, quoted in Harold C. Schonberg, Horowitz: his life and music, Own words

  3. Perfection itself is imperfection.

    Mentioned in Brainy Quotes, Own words

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Albums 23

VRVladimir Horowitz Rehearsal at Carnegie Hall, April 7, 1965 (Remastered)2019
HRHorowitz Plays Scriabin (Remastered)2015
HCHorowitz - Return to Chicago2015
RCReturn to Chicago2015
ABAt Carnegie Hall, The Private Collection - Haydn & Beethoven2010
VHVladimir Horowitz Greatest Hits2009
VLVladimir Horowitz at Carnegie Hall - The Private Collection: Mussorgsky & Liszt (Live)2009
HDHorowitz - The Beloved Piano (disc 2)2009
POPiano Concerto no. 3 in D minor, op. 302008
MDMasters of the Roll: Rare Original Recordings From the Reproducing Piano by the Great masters of Classical Piano 1904 - 1935: A 32 CD Catalogue: Disc 12007
PNPiano Concerto No. 22007
TH20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Vladimir Horowitz2005
RNRachmaninov: Piano Concerto no. 3 / Beethoven: Piano Concerto no. 52005
PNPiano Concerto No. 3 / Piano Sonata No. 22004
FEFavorite Encores2004
ARA Reminiscence2004
PNPiano Sonatas nos. 14, 21, 232004
HCHorowitz plays Chopin2003
LCLive & Unedited: Historic 1965 Carnegie Hall Return Concert2003
HHHorowitz Plays Haydn2003
RLRachmaninov & Liszt2003
KAKinderszenen / Fantasie op. 17 / Arabesque2003
CMChopin Piano Music2002

Awards

Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1993
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1991
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award1990
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1989
National Medal of Arts1989
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1988
Grammy Award for Best Classical Album1988
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1987
Grammy Award for Best Classical Album1987
Presidential Medal of Freedom1986
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1982
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1980
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1979
Grammy Award for Best Classical Album1978
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1977
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1974
Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal1974
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1973
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1972
Grammy Award for Album of the Year1972
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1969
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1968
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1966
Grammy Award for Album of the Year1966
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1965
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1964
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (With or Without Orchestra)1963
Grammy Award for Album of the Year1963
Great Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Knight of the Legion of Honour
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

In their orbit 2

About this person

Born October 1, 1903, in Russia, Vladimir Samoylovich Horowitz carried his virtuoso technique across borders and decades, eventually settling in America. His playing wasn't just precise; it had a distinct timbre, a voice in the instrument that other pianists couldn't match. Audiences didn't simply attend his concerts - they came for the public thrill, the sense that something rare was happening in real time. He died November 5, 1989, leaving behind a standard few have touched.

Country
United States
Category
Musicians
Type
Singer / Musician
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1903 to 1989 · aged 86

In common with Vladimir

Peter GelbAlso in Horowitz in Moscow (1986)Richard StraussBoth received Royal Philharmonic Society Gold MedalItzhak PerlmanBoth received Grammy Award for Best Classical AlbumHerbert von KarajanBoth received Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal

Musicians from the United States 2

Mike Campbell60.7Zack de la Rocha60.6

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