By Maria Esteves – January 23, 2012

A Tribute To Horowitz sold out concert with piano virtuoso Lola Astanova commenced Thursday, January 19, 2012, 8:00 PM, at the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall, New York. Sponsored by Tiffany & Co., the extraordinary enchanting evening to benefit the American Cancer Society presented gala chairman Donald J. Trump and special guest artist host Julie Andrews with the American Cancer Society Lifetime Achievement Awards. The Stonewall Chorale special acapella performance of “Love Changes Everything” “Moscow Nights” and from the Sound of Music “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” preceded Lola Astanova piano debut in Carnegie Hall. She played on the Horowitz Steinway specially prepared by chief concert technician Mr. Franz Mohr, Steinway & Sons. Ms. Astanova dramatic, emotional, and flawless performance included works by the genius Frederic Chopin (1810-1849), Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915), and Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943). Her amazing performance of Chopin’s famous Sonata No. 2, Op.35 (third, final movements) and Rachmaninoff’s Prelude Op. 3, No. 2 was incredible!

The legendary maestro Vladimir Horowitz (1903-1989) made his piano debut in Carnegie Hall, January 12, 1928. His performance was described by the New York Times as a “tornado unleashed from the steppes.” In 1941, Steinway & Sons of New York built a piano model D, serial number CD503 (Horowitz Steinway). In 1943, the piano was presented as a gift to piano virtuoso Vladimir Horowitz and Wanda Toscanini. Chief concert technician Franz Mohr, Steinway & Sons maintained Horowitz’s piano throughout the years. Maestro Horowitz died November 5, 1989, in New York.

A Tribute To Horowitz: Lola Astanova Piano Debut in Carnegie Hall, Lola
Astanova, center, with American Cancer Society Lifetime Achievement
Award recipients gala chairman Donald J. Trump, left, and special
guest artist host Julie Andrews. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

A Tribute To Horowitz: Lola Astanova Piano
Debut in Carnegie Hall, Lola Astanova.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

A Tribute To Horowitz: Lola Astanova Piano
Debut in Carnegie Hall, Lola Astanova.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.