Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum I played Horowitz's Piano Today.

Thats right. Its the one that went to Russia and was used on the last recording. Number 314503. I played Rachmaninov Moment Musicaux #3 and Liszt Consolation (I forget the number). This piano from the 40's has the original board and block but it appears to have strings less than 60 years old. It sings. It has a light action but not as light as I was expecting and the piano is as Horowitz had it, its not changed. It has many dents and scratches and some checkering of the finish. Clearly many rubs were touched up. It was a winner and not just because it was his. My friend came along and played Horowitz's version of the Stars and Stripes Forever which he took from the recording along with the other 600 pages of unwritten Horowitz's transcriptions. He told me its the one that was in Horowitz's apartment when he visited shorlty before his death in order to cut a deal to publish. I also played one of Van Cliburn's Ds number 443530. It was good but had a thicker sound and a heavier action. I didnt like it near as much. But another D that Van signed and used in concert is for sale and although it is well used it was not unlike the Horowitz piano. I should have taken the number but didnt it was in the 446 range. Last at the Hall I played the Peace piano number 569327. Other than the fancy case it is a standard D and pretty good too. Having left the Hall I went to Altenberg's and tried a Bluthner just like Kenny's. Very nice and a good price too (less than a D) also in house was a new 6'3" Estonia. I have never commented on these because this was my first. I thought it was a very good piano and would certainly get serious consideration if I were buying that size. Many of you know I have a concert grand and unfortunately it was the only Estonia in the house and was on its way out the door so no bigger Estonia was available. They are at a fair price as well but not cheap by any means. Lastly I also played a nine foot Fazioli. Very nice and I can see why they get compared to Yamaha although they are better than Yamaha. They are like Yamaha only better but then you should expect that for 160K. I wish they had the 10.5 footer but they didnt. They also had a real nice D from 1915, sorry its sold. If any of you want a great concert Steinway that should be a good buy call the hall and ask about the signed Van Cliburn piano.

Correction it was Faust Harrison not Altenberg's and I dont know the name of the Fazioli shop but its next door.

I believe Fazioli in NY is "Clavierhaus". Very nice people.
- Climber

HI LJC

I've also played the Horowitz and Van Cliburn pianos and had similar feelings about them. The Horowitz piano is thrilling to play, both because it is an extraordinary instrument and the history is so palpable when you look at it and touch it. A wonderful experience!

Sophia

Sorry to correct you LJC, but #314503 was taken to the S&S factory after his death and many things such as the action and hammers were replaced(complete new action). It was also refinished at that time. S&S did'nt want it to go on tour being representative of their standard model D(touchweight too light at 46 grams), so a new action with a standard touchweight was installed. Franz Mohr, head tech of the C&A department, and Horowitz's tech of many years, did the installation of the new action, but put the old hammers and shanks in a box that's kept at the factory for posterity's sake.
After many years of touring, literally hundreds of moves, I'd expect that the case finish would be in need of another complete refinishing.

Hi Curry, no need to be sorry. One of the sales people told me the piano was untouched but it is possible they changed the action some and that could explain why I was surprised it wasnt lighter. But the case clearly was never refinished. I think probably the refinishing you mentioned is a great deal of touching up of the paint. Looking closely there was alot of that done and with the checking of the finish and its appearance it has to be original..... Climber yeah that was them. COuldnt go to Beethoven's across the street I ran out of time.

Thanks for the interesting story, LJC! Are these pianos just sitting there and able to be played by any guy off the street? Or do you have to make an appointment or have connections to get to play them?

I doubt I'd have the nerve myself to even ask.

You need an appointment and I think the show is over by saturday so hurry.

Nice report but this one floored me.

A rather wonderous statement........

norbert

A rather wonderous statement........
WHY? Do you think thats alot of money or something??? (LOL)

I, too, was a bit astonished by this. Can't say it's incorrect, though.

I, too, was a bit astonished by this. Can't say it's incorrect, though.....That dear friends was the quoted price. Negotiable? perhaps.

LJC, I don't think Palindrome or Norbert were referring to the price. :rolleyes:

CMK- OK then what?

Hello I have Horowitz input...I answered LJC personally and after reading these comments I decided to post here also...All I know is what I was told by my piano teacher... He seemed very grounded and sincere and I got to know him and he was always accurate with me on all issues... to my knowledge...This was located in Jacksonville Beach Fl. in appx. 1990... name of the Steinway dealership was Piano Forte...My piano teacher was Brian Brooks ... he told me this information ...He was a Steinway concert pianist off tour and teaching piano in a studio at this dealership...He pointed to the Steinway grand people were crowded around...he said this to me, "That is Vladimir Horowitz's piano he took to Russia with him ..." {Please forgive my spelling errors...}Brian continued to say" Horowitz's nephew inherited the piano and his nephrew has it on loan for a tour of all the Steinway dealerships in the USA... I played Ah!Sweet Mystery of Life..my own inprov..I prayed while playing "Please forgive me Mr. Horowitz."
I was so disappointed in the action as it was so loose...I asked my teacher this," Why is there no bite?" As all of you know one of the benefits of a Steinway is the bite...He replied to me,
"The action was loosened as Horowitz had arthritis." Again I only know what I was told...Sandy B new member...

Sandra, Thank you for that memory. I was going to play one of my arrangements on it but thought the Rachmaninoff more appropriate, I did a little improv on the peace piano. I've gotten a few messages from people who played this piano, keep them coming. And CMK if the answer is the comparison to Yamaha I've heard that said several times by several different people.

Hi LJC, yes referring to the comparison of the Fazioli to the Yamaha. Not disputing or anything, just raises a few eye brows. Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience with Horowitz's piano, its a part of his legacy.

CMK- You're quite welcome.

Does anyone else think Leonard Bernstein was the Number 1 concert artist of the 20th Cemtury? He did it all... Conductor,concert pianist, composer, teacher,on and on ... You probably remember he was a Harvard graduate ... music major....I have been blessed to hear and see Marvin Hamlisch twice at Wolf Trapp in Va. He is on my list of the top 5 as Itzah Perlman...Sorry spelling here? We just saw him at Wolf Trap and he conducted from his wheel chair... We missed his violin performance... as... we were late... Just to see him again...he is in his early 60's now...was a big treat to me...We have heard him perform several other times in past years...I am very fortunate to be a native of this area with so many cultural advantages as I am in the Washington DC Metro area.. Did any of you get to see and hear Horowitz perform live? I so regret I did not ....Input music lovers? Sandy B

Let's not forget Mr. Bernstein's roots were at The Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, studying piano under Isabelle Vengerova.
I got to hear Horowitz several times during the late 1970's.