‘A recording that immediately, from the first impetuous bars of Op 70 No 1, feels just right’ (Gramophone)
‘For an exhilarating sense of live music-making, of players constantly challenging and coaxing each other to new insights, these irresistible performances make this one of the discs of the year’ (BBC Music Magazine)
‘This new Florestan account of the two Op. 70 trios is outstanding in every way. The playing is quite gripping and masterly, and the sound is vivid and well balanced. These are arguably the most satisfying accounts in the catalogue, and certainly the best we have had in recent years’ (The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs)
‘This is playing of quite extraordinary sensitivity and depth. I can hardly wait until the next volume’ (The Independent)
‘This is a highly auspicious beginning to the Florestans’ survey of the Beethoven piano trios … totally convincing’ (The Guardian)
‘Should grab even the most casual listener … a real winner’ (The Times)
‘Hugely enjoyable’ (The Sunday Times)
‘Susan Tomes' controlled, musical piano playing is a constant source of delight’ (The Strad)
‘The Florestan Trio plays them with great immediacy and vigour; everything is beautifully balanced and argued out’ (Classic FM Magazine)
‘I can’t say I have ever heard better’ (Fanfare, USA)
‘Dash, energy, exuberance, tempered by an acute awareness of each other … a highly enjoyable disc’ (Pianist)
‘Hyperion’s ability to pick outstanding musicians from the universal crop has rarely been better directed than in the case of The Florestan Trio’ (Music Week)
‘No current trio conveys such a spontaneous sense of enthusiasm and discovery as The Florestan … the performers bounce ideas off one another, stimulating and persuading each to reveal fresh insights and creating a wonderful sense of live music making. With very good engineering this now has to be the first choice among recordings of these works’ (Hi-Fi Plus)
‘The Florestan embark on the complete Beethoven piano trios, the first release pointing to a cycle that is going to be very special. The playing is unfailingly perceptive and full of musical insights … However many times you have these works in your collection, this is an essential purchase’ (Yorkshire Post)
‘There’s such unanimity of purpose here, three minds united in their common musical goal, and yet able to realise it without surrendering their individual character … buy this now, and wait impatiently for Beethoven volume 2’ (bbc.co.uk)