Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1/ Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5

CD Details

Vladimir Horowitz, one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century, performs Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” on this 1990 release. Conductor Arturo Toscanini leads the NBC Symphony in the Tchaikovsky, while Fritz Reiner conducts the RCA Victor Symphony for the Beethoven. Horowitz brings his legendary virtuosity to both works, tackling the Tchaikovsky’s demanding octave passages with characteristic brilliance and offering a direct, uncluttered interpretation of the Emperor that ranks among the finest recordings of this beloved concerto.

This CD compilation on the BMG Classics label (Horowitz Collection series) contains both complete concertos. The Tchaikovsky spans three movements totaling over thirty minutes, followed by the full Beethoven Emperor concerto. A used copy gives you access to these celebrated performances at a fraction of retail cost.