Here are some links which you might find useful and amusing.
The Horowitz Experience!
Vladimir Horowitz (1903-1989) was a virtuoso pianist, who lived in the time of Sergei Rachmaninoff (a Russian composer and pianist). In fact, they were good friends, having in common the fact that both were Russian and pianists. Upon hearing a replay of a concert on PBS while I was in college, I was struck by the beauty of his playing. Having made to "learn" the piano when I was young, I never developed an appreciation for classical piano. Mind-numbing repetitive practice and the impatience of youth both furthered my distaste for the piano. I did not know the beauty of the piano or of music until I heard Vladimir Horowitz for the first time. His performance moved me so much that I began to rediscover classical music.
As James Hilton wrote:
"If by some dispensation a man born deaf were to be given hearing for a single hour, he might well spend the whole time with Horowitz. Indeed, when I listened to Horowitz for the first time it was almost like that-as if I had never really heard the piano before, as if the instrument itself had never known what it could do until Horowitz came along."
While I am certainly unqualified to make such a comment nor do I believe other pianists are unworthy of such praise, I had a similar epiphany when I listened to Horowitz for the very first time. The link listed above provides a good starting point if you wish to learn more about Vladimir Horowitz.