‘As is to be expected, the Takács Quartet provide a sumptuous disc here … an ensemble of the first rank. Younger ensembles may restrain their use of the vibrato rather more, but such mannerisms are made up for by the depth and insight of these performances. Hyperion has produced this disc well with admirable clarity of sound, while the booklet notes provide an informative essay’ (The Strad)

‘Schumann's virtuosic Piano Quintet is one of the glories of the repertoire … the Takács and Hamelin, at once delicate and muscular, combine to spellbinding effect. The earlier String Quartet Op 41 No 3 is played with wistful tenderness’ (The Observer)

‘The Takács and Hamelin have just the right combination of tensile strength and lyrical ardour … the poise and quality of the playing is exceptional throughout … the Takács possess a poetry and fluency that make for very absorbing listening: this is compelling, concentrated quartet playing of very high quality … there are excellent notes by Misha Donat and both works benefit from wonderfully natural recorded sound. The result is a Schumann disc of great distinction’ (International Record Review)

‘Such an outstanding ensemble as the Takács … [A major quartet] fabulous textural clarity, revealing just how imaginatively resourceful Schumann's writing is, and a special feeling for the troubled, nervous strands in his musical personality’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘Outstanding musicianship and virtuosity abound on this stunning disc … the sense is of true chamber interplay between five equals … the Hyperion sound is more spacious … and once again the Takács revel in the classical logic of Schumann's vision … that this disc simply gets better and better on repeated listening is ample recommendation’ (Gramophone)

'The best Schumann reissue so far is Hyperion's box of complete songs … this is a landmark issue no serious collector should be without' (The Mail on Sunday)

‘This is one of the finest Lieder recordings I've ever heard … imaginatively and intelligently conceived, and superlatively achieved’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘All now stand and salute! … In fine sonics and a most complete booklet in English plus the original German poems and translations, Hyperion deserve our thanks’ (In Tune, Japan)

‘There is much beauty in these songs and if they need first-class performers to reveal their glories they certainly have them here, with Schäfer's beautifully clear, shining, radiant voice, Johnson's warm and sensitive accompaniment, all wrapped in the wonderfully intimate acoustic that Hyperion always manages for its vocal discs. As with the Schubert series, Johnson's notes are a work of art in themselves, with deeply-thought insights on every page. He is truly a peerless representative of song’ (The Singer)

‘Schäfer evokes comparison with Elisabeth Schumann and with the young Elly Ameling, whom in tone and freshness of response she often resembles. In sum, a delectable, often revelatory recital … from a born Lieder singer’ (Gramophone)

‘It is hard to think of a more eloquent, dedicated partnership than Johnson's with the young German soprano Christine Schäfer here: pure, unaffected singing, in partnership with pianism of rare insight and beauty of tone and phrasing’ (Hi-Fi News)

«Son premier enregistrement de Lieder de Schumann est d'emblée une réussie absolue. Avec le timbre à la fois le plus pur et le plus coloré, une ligne d'une souplesse parfaite et un contrôle idéal du souffle, de la nuance et de la mezza voce elle a d'emblée toutes les qualités d'une grande chanteuse de Lieder. Tout dans ce programme très varié est superlatif. N'oublions pas Graham Johnson dont on se demande s'il faut louer le plus son d'accompagnement constamment musical et passionnant ou ses notes de programmes sur le Lieder» (Répertoire, France)