Herbert Hoover was the first president to invite artists to perform in the White House.
In 1938 Steinways replaced the 1903 piano with a 9’7″ instrument that is still in use today.
Vladimir Horowitz played it for the first time in April 1942.
These items from his concert were broadcast and recorded:
Schubert/Tausig: Marche Militaire in D-flat major, Op.51 No.1 (Edited by Horowitz)
Encores
Brahms: Waltz in A-flat major, Op.39 No.15
Horowitz: Variations on a Theme from Bizet’s Carmen
Video courtesy of Mikhail Kaykov
Some intimate glimpses of the elusive pianist in this newly uploaded documentary by Georges Gachot.
The confession about the cancellation comes at 0:32.
Dated 1948 and never released. Unearthed by Mikhail Kaykov.
Listen.
My Song, without words.
Go, see.
The Greek Communist Party has announced the death of composer Thanos Mikroutsikos, a prolific musician who succeeded Melina Mercouri as minister of culture in 1994.
Much of his music was agit-prop, though not without charm.
In an interview with Der Standard, the incoming director speaks of a ‘relatively large’ change in the ensemble, meaning that quite a few established singers will lose their Vienna jobs.
He also talks of importing used productions from other houses and a variety of foreign orchestras such as Teodor Currentzis’ Music Aeterna’.
A Roscic company is seldom a happy one. Ask them at Decca and Sony Classics.
The less outspoken of the two conductor brothers (left of picture)has given a rare interview in Vienna, to mark the publication of his biography.
Here’s what Adam says about his home country: ‘I have already said and I repeat: Hungary will never be a democracy, a feudalist instinct will always remain. Whoever rules holds the reins. If Orbán were to lose, two to three million people will immediately say they never voted for him. They just jump over to the other side….
‘[Orban] is intelligent and knows exactly what he is doing, knows that he is poisoning society by keeping out foreigners. He is not interested in how he gets what he needs. He would also be a good Social Democrat if that were in his interest.’
