‘In the Liederkries, Kate Royal, discerningly partnered by Johnson, sings with pure, luminous tone and eloquent phrasing … there are many memorable things here, including a hushed, rapt Mondnacht, and a truly ecstatic final Frülingsnacht’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘Royal's pure, pellucid tone, free-soaring top notes and refined musicianship give constant pleasure … abetted by Johnson's ever-sentient keyboard-playing, Royal reveals a true understanding of Schumann's Innigkeit … in the final 'Frülingsnacht', often rushed off its feet, she and Johnson catch the elusive mix of secretiveness and ecstasy as perfectly as I have heard’ (Gramophone)

‘This disc goes far to vindicating some of Schumann's least-favoured late songs, not least due to Graham Johnson's eloquent advocacy, in print and in performance’ (Gramophone)

‘This is the final instalment of Hyperion's complete edition of Schumann's songs, the brainchild of pianist Graham Johnson, who has overseen and prepared the series with great erudition and care … the best songs are also the most disturbing: Der Einsiedler expresses an almost Mahlerian longing for the freedom from human strife that only solitude can bring … Johnson himself is faultless, as always’ (The Guardian)

‘Every time a new instalment of Graham Johnson's complete Schumann song recording appears, I'm eager to lay my hands on it. Each one sheds new light on well-loved masterpieces and brings wonderful neglected songs back to light. The singers are shrewdly chosen to fit the character of the songs, the liner notes are a treasure-trove of learning and insight, and Johnson's wonderful playing illuminates every song’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘A real disc of discovery: this is Schumann as he is seldom heard. In this final volume of his revelatory Schumann Songs series, Graham Johnson perceptively writes about, accompanies and presents still more rarities, in the voices of both loyal colleagues and of younger singers whom he keenly champions … altogether touching and persuasive performances’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘No singer has sung them so beautifully or so naturally as Simon Keenlyside’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘The collaboration of Keenlyside and Johnson is so potent that after an hour one is still ready for more’ (Gramophone)

‘The young English baritone's gorgeous timbre now sounds in prime condition and his understanding of the German Lied is second to none. His programme, too, is characteristically adventurous. Johnson, too, is deeply immersed in this music and his 82-page booklet is a collector's item’ (The Sunday Times)

‘Banse's enchanting purity of line and ability to shape this music with the subtlest of tonal and dynamic inflections are a constant source of pleasure. Hyperion's standards of presentation are typically faultless’ (Hi-Fi News)

‘[Juliane Banse] is a born lieder interpreter. A must-buy for lieder lovers’ (The Sunday Times)

‘An unqualified success … a glorious interpreter, warm-voiced and wholly in sympathy with the task in hand. The famous cycle Frauenliebe und Leben receives a peerless reading’ (The Daily Telegraph)