Heroic Polonaise: Horowitz or Rubinstein?

Piece: Polonaise Op.53 ("Heroic")
Composer: Frédéric Chopin
Pianist: Vladimir Horowitz, Arthur Rubinstein

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[terranbricklin]

Rubinstein has such a regal and majestic pose omg

[lesliehunter]

I was blessed to hear both of them live. Hearing Rubenstein at the age of 10 (63 years ago) was one of the formative events in my life. Listen up parents and do something profound with your kids. I went on to become a piano major. When Horowitz came out of retirement in my early 20s i heard him 2x. Once from 2nd row centre orchestra and the other from the Gods. I remember his fingers moving so fast i couldn't see them and especially that you could hear his pianissimos from anywhere in the hall. Both were of course extremely musically pursuasive.
PS mom also took me to Fonteyn and Nureyev in the Firebird although I didnt become a ballerina : )

[mizzyroro]

Horowitz thought Rubinstein was the better pianist but he was the better musician. That settles the question in this performance.

[tamirsapir]

Horowitz for my taste. The voicing is way more sophisticated than Rubinstein’s as well as the range he produces from piano. Rubinstein is like a percussionist in this piece, while Horowitz sounds like an entire orchestra.

[alejandrorodriguez]

Horowitz reminds me chopins technic, hands, delicasy and fineness, while Rubinstein reminds me Lizts powerfull technic, braveness and mastery. I think bot are amazing.

[jchomedog]

Both are incredible. I still feel Horowitz is in a league all of his own. Not necessarily for accuracy, but for musicality, color, texture, shifting gears, dynamics, style, providing contrast, and incredible voicing. I think he knows how to make music while others just play the piano really well.

[bobdagranny]

Rubinstein for me, what a regal interpretation

[alanparks]

The two brightest stars in the piano constellation of the 20th century. No need to determine who is “better”. I’ve long been a fan of VH’s thunderous left hand, but both were genius.

[dianamariebrooks]

My mother used to play this song to perfection just as these men are playing it. I was blessed with a mother with profound musical gifts shared only with her children. I could write a story about the Heroic Polonaise that took place when I was in 6th grade. My mother taught a young boy named David how to play it for his mother when he was in 6th grade. The nuns at my Catholic gradeschool considered it an authentic miracle. Well, Sister Carol Ann wondered if David was a musical prodigy.

[Raul-fc]

Los dos grandes pianista, pero Rubinstein era un Talento superdotado y perfeccionista.

[mateodanielcoelho]

This is not a fair comparison, at the time of these recordings respectively, Horowitz is much older than Rubinstein, making the fact that he can't handle such an incredibly challenging piece obvious. Horowitz lost much of his technique by the end of his life, though he could still play better than almost anyone alive at the time, he was no longer the flame spitting demon he was as up until the 70's. A fair comparison would be to see how his golden age recording of the Heroique compare to Rubinstein's. It would be a different conversation.

[randyedward]

The feel is all Rubenstein's! Near perfection...🎵

[carlosguaymas]

Horowitz. Tremendo! Impecable! Brillante!

[JudithCoyle-zu]

Apples or oranges? What I crave to hear varies too. Love both interpretations. They represent Chopin in all his glory.

[cynthiagonzalez]

They are both magnificent specially considering their advanced age.
I'd say that Rubenstein pumps 50 lb weights before playing and Horowitz, oh maybe only 40 lbs.
If I don't see them in heaven, I'm not going in🧐🤨🙏

[pastashack]

Rubinstein absolutely owns this piece, his is the standard everyone should compare to

[mariazamberletti]

🎉Rubinstein interpretes at its best the heroic sentiment of this Polonaise

[timlink]

Can't decide. I'm more familiar and nostalgic with the Rubenstein performance but the Horowitz is growing on me.

[moonshinesa]

I wish someone would convince shopping malls to play this music and some of the beautiful opera arias. I'm hoping people would get to know what humans are capable of producing and that we would all slow down and appreciate that we are privileged to live in a world that creates beauty and the technology that allows us to enjoy it.

[annietsui]

Rubinstein no doubt. He brings the whole spirit of polonaise out.