Gossip circulated in Russiaabout his visits to sailors' bars in port cities
and his fascinationfor extravagant clothing (his favorite colors were pink and red). Hewas also supposedly seen wearing make-up.
In1933, Horowitz performed for the first time with the legendaryconductor Arturo Toscanini. This artistic relationship led to hismarriage to Toscanini's daughter, Wanda, in December of the same year.
Themotives for Horowitz's decision to marry remain unclear. His friendsexpected the marriage to last no more than a month. His futurefather-in-law was also skeptical, and one of the reasons for suchskepticism was knowledge of Horowitz's strong sexual interest in men.
UntilToscanini's death in 1957, Horowitz was able to exert little influencewithin his family. In addition, he also found himself temperamentallyunsuited for the role of father. He never developed a closerelationship with his daughter.
In1940, Horowitz began psychoanalytic treatment with Dr. Lawrence Kubie,a psychiatrist who specialized in "curing" homosexuals, especiallycelebrities. (Among his other patients were Moss Hart and, later,Tennessee Williams.)
Eventhough his wife was very supportive in all his endeavors, including the(failed) attempt to change his sexual orientation, Horowitz separatedfrom her in 1949 for a period of four years. During this time he livedwith Carl Erpf, a personal assistant assigned to him by Dr. Kubie.
Inthe 1960s, Horowitz underwent supposedly successful electroshocktherapy to cure depression.
Laterin his life Horowitz was occasionally seen in New York City's gay barsand discotheques. He also seemed to display a somewhat more relaxedattitude toward his homosexuality, even though his personal life wasapparently unfulfilled in that respect.
Throughouthis life in the United States, Horowitz always had a personal valet.Some of these personal assistants lived at his home with Horowitz andhis wife. Over time, albeit not without reservations, Wanda learned totolerate and accept her husband's eccentricities, including hisattraction toward men.
Horowitzis often credited with the famous "blasphemous" statement: "there arethree kinds of pianists: gay pianists, Jewish pianists, and badpianists".