In a fascinating example of the evolution in pianistic interpretation of a great classical pianist, Horowitz plays Chopin Ballade No1 in six different interpretations spanning about 40 years from 1947 to 1985. Horowitz was a master of the turn of phrase and as such the sometimes quite subtle changes detail from one version to another are delicious. If you have the interest and the patience to do a careful comparison of these performances, you will be rewarded.
Generally I find the earlier performances more satisfying, a bit less finicky, perhaps. Horowitz's playing is always stunningly beautiful, but as he got older he seemed to lose interest in the forest and focused more and more on the individual trees. His later performances of smaller pieces, Scarlatti Sonatas for example, or cycles of short pieces like the Kinderszenen by Robert Schumann, are sheer genius, but the structure and shape of larger works can be lost in the glorious details.
Recorded in 1947
1965 live studio recording
1968 TV broadcast from Carnegie Hall
1974 Cleveland recital
1985 Paris recital
I do not know the date of this recording but it is my favorite of the six. The detail is amazing.
