Magic Moments of Music : Horowitz in Moscow

It’s 1986, and Vladimir Horowitz has returned to Russia for the first time in 60 years. In the grand auditorium of the Moscow Conservatory, the legendary pianist, heir to the Russian school, gives a recital that remains etched in collective memory as a major musical event of the twentieth century. The program includes Domenico Scarlatti—whom he helped to bring back among his contemporaries—Mozart, Rachmaninov, his close friend Scriabin, whom he deeply admired, as well as Liszt and Chopin, whose works showcased the full breadth of his virtuosity, as well as Schumann and Moszkowski.

Pianists Martha Argerich, Daniil Trifonov, and Sophie Pacini, along with Horowitz’s former manager Peter Gelb, among others, reflect on the memorable event for this episode of the Magic Moments of Music series. They share their thoughts on the undisputed master of the twentieth-century keyboard, whose influence left a lasting imprint on generations of performers.