Let's get skip ahead and talk about the Toccata. This piece can only be described in roller-coaster terms. For 4'00" you will experience every conceivable twist and turn, the music will only slow down to gather momentum (like when you are slowly hoisted up on a bungee cord just to get ready for a free fall). Exhilerating!
Don't think for a minute that we would skip over Prokofiev's 7th Sonata. The first movement has enough material to last for hours. Only someone like Prokofiev, with his limitless supply of fresh material, could rapidly shift between themes without milking them for all they are worth. The 2nd movement could be described as haunting, lyrical, mysterious, and chilling. The 3rd movement is a pure show of brute force. This is the kind of music that annoys the neighbors, unless they have exceptional musical taste.
The Barber Sonata bursts on to the scene with a brash into. Nothing on this CD is ordinary, especially not when played by the king of the piano.
This should tell you what I think of this recording. I tried to rate it six stars but the computer didn't except that. Well...Pure, Unadulterated Horowitz... This recording makes it clear why Horowitz is so often referred to as "king of the piano". His staggering technique is more than evident, and his seemingly limitless tonal palette is constantly in effect. The Barber Sonata is a most electrifying experience, especially in the insanely virtuosic fugue, and definitely the best on record. The Prokofiev Sonata has more rivals (Richter, Argerich, Pollini, etc.), and to no one's surprise, it stands with the best. The last movement may not be as exciting as Argerich's version, but on the whole, the performance is top-notch. The Toccata is taken in a record four minutes flat, but does anyone notice that Horowitz makes a cut several pages from the end? Still, this account in one of the most stunning on record (the only real competition coming from Argerich on her debut CD). It is interesting how Horowitz slows down the tempi in certain sections to prepare for more heart-stopping climaxes. The rest of the CD is also enjoyable, but it is composed of less well-known repertoire such as a Kabalevsky Sonata and a short Poulenc piece. This CD is strongly recommended, at least until some one of Horowitz's abilities decides to record the Barber Sonata (I'm still waiting for an artist like Argerich or Pollini to come around).
