Despite his enormous success and popularity, Horowitz could be deeply insecure about his playing. He occasionally needed to be pushed onto the stage and more than once withdrew from public performance while suffering bouts of depression. This recital marked Horowitz's return from one such prolonged period: remarkably, before this performance, he had not appeared publicly since 1953. Columbia Records was on hand to record the historic return, and although Horowitz arrived late and riddled with stage fright, the concert was an enormous success.