Amazing interpretation of Op 108. Horowitz above any other pianist for this sonata, so much legato, restrain and « cushioning » for the violin. Amazing sound and colors as always. Unfortunate they didn’t record more together.
When I first heard this I was surprised by the delicacy and perhaps restraint in their playing. But now I think I hear mutual respect and fondness. And of course the extreme beauty of the sublime.
The Brahms 3rd sonata is one of my all-time favorites, & I've heard many versions of it. Because Brahms was a great pianist, it is one of those sonatas in which the piano part is even more difficult than the violin solo. This is also true of the Beethoven sonatas. The problem with this recording is that Milstein is often drowned out by the piano. Heifetz always played close to the microphone. Perhaps Milstein was too far away. Or, perhaps, the microphone was placed too close to the piano. Listen to the Heifetz version to hear what I mean.
I knew they played together, but I didn't remember that this was in their repertory. I am going to feast on this. I heard Milstein play with orchestra when he was very old-FANTASTIC!. And this very difficult piano part is right up Horowitz's alley in terms of tonal control required. This will be VERY GOOD, I'm sure! I'm listening to the first movement as I write!
They left the Soviet Union together to come to the West. I love this performance. But I also love Szeryng-Rubinstein. Szeryng was such a beautiful player and Rubinstein, with that golden sound and straight-forward natural musicality, was just wonderful in Brahms, maybe beyond compare. I don't think anyone else needs to play the Op. 5 Sonata after hearing Rubinstein.
At times the unsurpassed Mr. Horowitz takes the title "for PIANO and violin" a bit too literally. It's ok. Mr. Milstein laser beam high register is cutting through!)))
