A beautiful sampler of Horowitz's Schumann
G.D. | Norway | 03/23/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very fine sampler of Horowitz's Schumann - surely one of the great interpretative acts of the last century? It is at least one of the greatest - probably the greatest - performance(s) of Kinderszenen around; Horowitz's almost frightening ability to give life to these pieces is inimitable, and the poetic depths and shadows of various nuances he brings to the more reflective pieces is peerless. It is, quite simply, an almost perfect performance. He is no less impressive in the other works either; the Fantasie is beautifully shaped and wonderfully played. One could, perhaps, object that it is almost a little too mellow for perfection - that it could ideally have received a little more tension and force - but that complaint would indeed be no more than a nitpick. Sound quality is good, if a little dry."