Problematic...

This is a seriously flawed CD issue, through no fault of Vladimir Horowitz.

The Schumann Sonata in F minor consists entirely of outakes (listening to the original LP, which I have, confirms this) and is not what Horowitz authorized for release. The performance is overdriven, mannered, and riddled with many mistakes.

The Humoreske, recorded in 1979, is another story. This is some of Horowitz' finest Schumann. Horowitz masterfully molds Schumann's varied moods, or "humors" and builds them into a coherent whole. This performance has drawn the praise of such diverse interpreters and Maurizio Pollini and Miecyslaw Horszowski.

The Nachstücke and Fantasiestücke were recorded in 1980, and the piano is voiced a bit less brightly here than in the other pieces. The performances are fine, but not on quite the exalted level of the Humoreske.

All of these recordings were assembled from concert performances taped from 1976-1980. The sound throughout the disc is rather hard and airless, which is pretty much the kind of sound RCA was giving all their artists at the time. Remastering has improved the sonic picture somewhat, but this is no match for the fine recordings DG made of this artist. RCA should thoroughly remaster and repackage ALL of the Horowitz recordings and give him the red carpet treatment they recently gave Arthur Rubinstein.