Evenings With Horowitz: A Personal Portrait [Paperback]

David Dubal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1994

The author from such highly acclaimed books as "Reflections From the Keyboard" details a special friendship between two musicians, covers a lifetime of musical wisdom, and contains countless anecdotes of the musical world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Concert pianist Vladimir Horowitz (1904-1990), known for his inaccessibility to the public, lived with his imperious wife, Wanda (Arturo Toscanini's daughter), in the isolated splendor of their New York City townhouse. In 1979, Dubal ( Conversations with Menuhin ) was admitted to that inner sanctum to record a series of interviews with the pianist for the New York radio station WNCN, and the insecure and secretive Horowitz took a liking to him. From 1985 to 1988 they met weekly at Horowitz's home, occasionally with Juilliard piano students Dubal brought along. While the conversation, as Dubal reports it in this account, is sometimes stilted, it is always engrossing; for Horowitz--childish, narcissistic and unpredictable--could be both charming and abrasive. Dubal presents a candid portrait of Horowitz, whose vulgarity and lack of tact often startled his visitors, as well as a sensitive appraisal of his playing. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Dubal, broadcaster, concert pianist, and faculty member at Juilliard draws upon his knowledgeable background to produce a fascinating portrait of the brilliant and electrifying pianist Vladimir Horowitz. Dubal spent many evenings with Wanda and Vladimir Horowitz in their home and in restaurants. Discussions ensued on repertoire, stylistic interpretations, tastes of audiences, other famous pianists, favored composers, and even such nonmusical topics as care of animals, modern-day presidents, and American youth. Dubal provides a rare and intimate glimpse of Horowitz and illustrates the precariousness of accommodating the temperament of a genius. Complementary works are Dubal's The Art of the Piano ( LJ 9/1/89) and Glen Paskin's Horowitz: A Biography (Morrow, 1983).
- Kathleen Sparkman, Baylor Univ., Waco, Tex.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 321 pages
• Publisher: Citadel Pr (June 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806515139
• ISBN-13: 978-0806515137
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,426,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dubal's ego aside, a fascinating snapshot of a Maestro, April 3, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Princeton , New Jersey. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Evenings With Horowitz: A Personal Portrait (Hardcover)

Yes! Dubal loves to impress the reading public of how knowledgable he is. When you get around this, however, here is an interesting side of Horowitz that allows you to see the excentricities and warmth of one of the greatest pianists of this century. After listening to one of Horowitz's students about his lessons and meetings over three years with the Maestro, I have to say that Dubal has captured the real personality and intellect of Horowitz. The stories are fascinating and for any piano student, like me, this is an absorbing read. Not a great book....but one for travel and vacation that is easy to read, without the voluminous footnotes.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Read it for horowitz sake, not dubal's, October 27, 2000

By 

Phillip Thompson (West Monroe, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Evenings With Horowitz: A Personal Portrait (Hardcover)

I read everything about Horowitz that I can get my hands on. And I think that this book is the least superficial and the most emotionally provoking book about the Maestro. It does irk me that the author is elevated a little too much in the book. But, I get a new look at Horowitz that makes me see him as a man and not some eccentric genius that had no feelings.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating glimpse into the life of a great pianist., July 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Evenings With Horowitz: A Personal Portrait (Hardcover)

Other reviewers fault Dubal's self-absorption, and while I realize he is quite pleased with himself, I think the book is excellent - delightful to read, full of interesting stories about life with the monster maestro, and displaying the author's considerable musical erudition. There is much to be learned here. As for the ethical question -- when you have been a guest in a famous man's home for a period of years, do you then write a book exposing the flaws of your host? It is easy to look askance. But if Dubal had not written this book, we piano lovers would all be the poorer. I keep Evenings with Horowitz on a central bookshelf in my library, where I often refer to it -- not least for the valuable discography and insightful comments on Horowitz' recordings. I only wish Dubal had been a guest of Franz Liszt in the 19th century -- what a book that would have been!