This fantastic set, which arrives in time for the composer's 200th anniversary in June, covers all the types of music that Schumann wrote: piano solo, symphonic, concerto, chamber and Lied.

PIANO: Classics such as Trumerei (Dreaming) and the Arabeske in magical performances by Horowitz and Pires respectively; Ivo Pogorelichs riveting rendition of the super-virtuosic Toccata and three selections from Nelson Freires Carnaval, full of panache.

SYMPHONY / CONCERTO: The invigorating first movement of the Rhenish Symphony under Gardiner opens the set, followed later by the searing slow movement from the Second Symphony in Bernsteins almost Mahlerian interpretation; Rafael Kubeliks Manfred Overture is full of drama, and both Karajan and Solti offer classic accounts of the Scherzi from the Third and Fourth Symphonies. Radu Lupu revels in the rollicking finale to the Piano Concerto, Lynn Harrell offers an impassioned account of the Cello Concertos slow movement.

VOCAL: Matchless performances from Dichterliebe by Fritz Wunderlich, Bryn Terfel sings favourites including Der Nussbaum and Du bist wie eine Blume, and there are classic recordings from Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. Rarities include a charming chorus from Gardiners celebrated recording of Das Paradies und die Peri.

CHAMBER: Driven, vibrant accounts of movements from the Piano Quintet from the Hagen Quartet and Paul Gulda, and from the First Piano Trio by the Beaux Arts Trio; plus passionate violin and piano from Gidon Kremer and Martha Argerich in the First Violin Sonata.
COMPACT DISC 1 (7424)

Symphony no. 3 in E flat major op. 97 Rhenish
1 1. Lebhaft 844
ORR / SIR JOHN ELIOT GARDINER

Carnaval op 9:
2 11. Chiarina 051
3 12. Chopin 115
4 13. Estrella 030
NELSON FREIRE, piano

Myrthen op. 25:
5 1. Widmung 225
6 3. Der Nussbaum 310
7 4. Du bist wie eine Blume 149
BRYN TERFEL, baritone MALCOLM MARTINEAU, piano

Piano Quintet in E flat major op. 44:
8 1. Allegro brillante 737
HAGEN QUARTETT PAUL GULDA, piano

Liederkreis op. 39:
9 5. Mondnacht 341
10 8. In der Fremde 126
11 12. Frhlingsnacht 110
DIETRICH FISCHER-DIESKAU, baritone CHRISTOPH ESCHENBACH, piano

Symphony no. 2 in C major op. 61
12 3. Adagio espressivo (1349)

WIENER PHILHARMONIKER LEONARD BERNSTEIN

13 Toccata op. 7 645
IVO POGORELICH, piano

String Quartet in A minor op. 41 no. 1:
14 2. Scherzo: Presto Intermezzo 351
HAGEN QUARTETT

Liederkreis op. 24:
15 Mit Myrten und Rosen 357
BRIGITTE FASSBAENDER, mezzosoprano IRWIN GAGE, piano

Fnf Stcke im Volkston op. 102:
16 1. Mit Humor 309
MISCHA MAISKY MARTHA ARGERICH

Piano Concerto in A minor op. 54:
17 3. Allegro vivace 1028 (quick fade in at start)
RADU LUPU, piano LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANDR PREVIN

COMPACT DISC 2 (6321)
1 Overture Manfred op. 115 1206
Berliner Philharmoniker RAFAEL KUBELIK

Kinderszenen op. 15:
2 7. Trumerei 234
VLADIMIR HOROWITZ, piano

Symphony no. 1 in B flat major op. 38 Spring
3 3. Scherzo 532
WIENER PHILHARMONIKER SIR GEORG SOLTI

Dichterliebe op. 48
4 1. Im wunderschnen Monat Mai 133
5 3. Die Rose, die Lilie 032
6 7. Ich grolle nicht 119
7 15. Aus alten Mrchen 231
FRITZ WUNDERLICH, tenor HUBERT GIESEN, piano

Cello Concerto in A minor op. 129:
8 2. Langsam 338
LYNN HARRELL, cello THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA NEVILLE MARRINER

Piano Trio no. 1 in D minor op. 60:
9 2. Lebhaft, doch nicht zu rasch Trio 445
BEAUX ARTS TRIO

Waldszenen op. 82:
10 7. Vogel als Prophet 254
Fantasiestcke op. 12:
11 7. Traumes-Wirren 212
VLADIMIR ASHKENAZY, piano

Das Paradies und die Peri op. 50:
12 18. Schmcket die Stufen zu Allahs Thron (156)
Vocal Quartet: Alexandra Coku, soprano Bernarda Fink, alto Neill Archer, tenor Cornelius Hauptmann, bass
MONTEVERDI CHOIR / ORR / GARDINER

Violin Sonata no. 1 in A minor op. 105:
13 1. Mit leidenschaftlichem Ausdruck 724
GIDON KREMER, violin MARTHA ARGERICH, piano

Symphony no. 4 in D minor op. 120:
14 3. Scherzo 547
BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER HERBERT von KARAJAN

Frauenliebe und Leben op. 42:
15 4. Du Ring an meinem Finger 247
ANNE SOFIE VON OTTER, mezzosoprano BENGT FORSBERG, piano

Arabeske op. 18 705
16 MARIA JOAO PIRES, piano