Excellently recorded as recently as last August, this makes a more consistently positive impression than Maria Joao Pires's LP of Chopin waltzes (Erato NUM75144, 1/85). Aside from the fact that ''Kind im Einschlummerin'' could perhaps have been a shade slower and ''Gluckes genug'' might have benefited from a trifle more dynamic variety, the Kinderszenen receive a virtually faultless interpretation, with many apt poetic insights. Waldszenen, though not comparable with Carnaval or Kreisleriana, probably form the best of Schumann's later collections of piano pieces and are done equally well. ''Einsame Blumen'' and ''Vogel als Prophet'' are here delicate, acutely sensitive.
Bunte-Blatter—nicely translated on the sleeve as ''Leaves of different colours''—are treated with comparable sympathy. This collection is in three parts: Drei Stucklein, Funf Albumblatter and then a group of six further pieces of which only the Praludium is included here. Some, like the ''Frisch'' of the Stucklein and ''Schnell'' of the Albumblatter, are of almost Webernian brevity, but they are as appealing as Opp. 15 and 82. Altogether this recital by Maria Joao Pires can be recommended, and perhaps it should be added that the first Albumblatt provided the theme for Clara Schumann's variations, Op. 20 and foor Brahms's Variations, Op. 9.'