The first thing to be said about this Schumann cycle is how splendidly alert the orchestral playing is: the Scottish Chamber Orchestra must be one of the finest ensembles of its kind in the world today. Its principal conductor, Robin Ticciati, is very much on his toes, too, paying meticulous attention to detail throughout.

Ticciati clearly knows how he wants this music to go and his strong parnership with the Edinburgh players enables him to shape readings notable for their energy and individuality...Throughout the performances are characterised by a woodwind sweetness that is becoming a trademark of this orchestra.

Ticciati adopts near-ideal tempi, refusing to drag in the slow movements — and he is propulsive in Schumann’s energetic, animated allegros. The wind soloists throughout effortlessly take centre stage, but the splendidly swaggering horns, especially in the Rhenish and D minor works, deserve special mention

Perhaps the most impressive thing that Ticciati has done on disc so far. Every bar in these urgent performances with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra seems alive and full of interest...in each symphony there is the sense of careful consideration and total absorption in the music so that not a detail of Schumann’s scoring goes missing. Everything flows with total naturalness.

The music-making on this splendid album gives abundant evidence of a happy marriage: you don’t get playing this focused and vigorous if everyone’s in a bad mood...There is lilting flow here, too, plus delicate textures, from the winds especially: all ingredients in performances that make you experience the symphonies’ wonders afresh.

Ticciati joins the distinguished list of today’s conductors treating Schumann’s Symphonies with the respect they deserve. At times he includes a few personal notions but each of them throws light on the passage in question.

Ticciati's new recording with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra of Schumann's four symphonies hits the mark… The lightness and buoyancy that are so much a feature of these masterpieces can be heard right across the stunning, super-articulate SCO performances.