May 9 is a special date in the career of Vladimir Horowitz (1903-1989). That day in 1965, a pianist's memorable recital took place at Carnegie Hall in New York, which he returned to the stage after 12 years of absence. When and why did he decide to return to the stage? Harold C. Schonberg describes and quotes the account of Ivan Davis (1932 - 2018) - an outstanding pianist and Vladimir Horowitz’s student.

„In 1962 he called Davis and said that he would gladly go to the city. He wanted to sit quietly, relax, go out among people. "Where will you take me?" Davis consulted friends. Where can you take the legend? As a result, they landed at the O'Henry’s Steak House restaurant in Greenwich Village and sat outside so that Horowitz could watch passers-by. Davis put several friends on their feet and said he would be there with Horowitz around twenty-first forty-five. [...] The friends he notified came and looked and left. Horowitz sat calmly, drinking Polish mineral water. Soon a group of young people with notes in the Schirmer edition under their arms began to look at them, show them with their fingers, until finally one of them moved to the table. [...]
A young man with Liszt Sonata notes approached them and asked: "Excuse me, Mr. Ivan Davies?" Then Horowitz, Davis told, snorted in a strangled voice. I said yes, and the boy asked: "Could you give me an autograph? I took the notes and wrote, "Idiot, you have no idea who is sitting next to me!" That thanked him and left, giggling. Horowitz sat for a moment, then said incredulously, "They don't know who I am." Of course not, I told him. - They are too young. They have never seen you. " And he repeated the octave higher voice: "They don't know who I am." That's it - I nodded. Young people don't know you. You have to start playing again. " Horowitz thought about it and said, "Maybe." I think that this event helped him make a decision. He was really moved by that."