This CD originally came out on Marco Polo in about 1986 so it's now quite an old recording. It's quite short measure at 56'44", but well-worth a listen, particularly for the Reger piece. Sound quality is fine.
Schumann's "Humoreske" dates from 1839, so it's quite an early piece, Op 20. This is an attractive, episodic work; you can imagine it being used to soundtrack a film (although what of, I'm not sure!). Harden plays it very well.
Max Reger seems to be hated by lots of critics, but I think that, given a chance, his sense of humour and intelligence comes through; you have to listen to Reger quite carefully (perhaps on headphones); this is not really background music. Reger's "Variations and Fugue on a Theme of J.S. Bach" Op 81 is relatively well-known compared to many other pieces in Reger's huge output.
Some say that this is his most important contribution to piano literature but there are quite a few gems hidden in his many piano pieces. Op 81 is based on a theme from one of Bach's cantatas and then Reger goes off into a series of variations, ending in a huge fugue reminding this listner very much of Brahms.
Certainly worth picking up at Naxos' price.
