there are so many praiseworthy things. The way these musicians approach Schumann's long spans of rhythmically repetitive writing shows such understanding and sensitivity that you forget there was ever a problem to be solved. There are some very memorable touches here, like the ghostly string tone at the heart of the first movement of the First Trio.

[Christian Tetzlaff's] strong personality and unmistakeable sound - plangent, witty and often lightly ironic - can seem quite dominant. But Andsnes's sparkling, solid and good-natured pianism is his ideal foil and on the whole the three play as if with one mind. In their hands Schumann emerges as blazingly inspired.

So what makes this so special? First, the pianist: Leif Ove Andsnes has long been acclaimed for his Schumann...It's not just for their dramatic pacing that I treasure these performances but for their lyrical qualities too...in the 'Duett' from the Op. 88 Fantasiestücke I defy you to find more beauty and understanding bewteen two string players, with Andsnes the most sensitive of supporting artists...a remarkable achievement.

Andsnes and the Tetzlaff siblings adopt a restrained approach that works most convincingly in Schumann’s songful slow movements...there is rapport here.

as you would expect from such fine musicians, they make a formidably competent trio. Their playing of all the works here is technically beyond criticism, and there is plenty to admire, whether it's Andsnes's crystalline delicacy in the slow movements or the way in which the two string players can reduce their tone to the merest whisper for dramatic effect.