Vladimir Horowitz (1904–89,) originally Vladimir Gorowlcz, was a Russian-born American concert pianist in the Romantic tradition. His performances of works by Sergey Rachmaninoff, Franz Liszt, Frédéric Chopin, Domenico Scarlatti, and Sergey Prokofiev were admired particularly for their technical precision and dynamic range.
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Horowitz studied at the Conservatory there, and with pianist Sergei Tarnowsky and composer Felix Blumenfeld. He first performed in public in 1921 and was world-famous by the age of 20 for his virtuoso technique and an almost-orchestral quality of tone.
Horowitz made his American début in 1928, settled there in 1940, and became a citizen in 1944. He retired from the concert platform in 1950 but continued to give occasional recitals and record.
Glenn Plaskin wrote the biography Horowitz: A Biography of Vladimir Horowitz (1983.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Vladimir Horowitz
I must tell you I take terrible risks. Because my playing is very clear, when I make a mistake you hear it. If you want me to play only the notes without any specific dynamics, I will never make one mistake. Never be afraid to dare.
—Vladimir Horowitz
Topics: Risk
Everyone goes to the forest; some go for a walk to be inspired, and others go to cut down the trees.
—Vladimir Horowitz
Topics: Nature
I am a general. My soldiers are the keys and I have to command them.
—Vladimir Horowitz
Topics: Soldiers
False notes [on the piano] are human. Why does everything have to be perfect? You know, perfection itself is imperfection.
—Vladimir Horowitz
Topics: Perfectionism
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