“The recordings of Idil Biret made in 2012 of Schumann’s Kreisleriana, Blumenstück and Carnival de Vienne show that pianist in her best form: Majestic, accurate, clear and always poetic. The lyrics sections of the Kreisleriana are of dreamlike beauty while the fast movements are at times performed with extraordinary humour and at others with glowing passion. Truly Schumannesque.”
– Piano News (Germany) 2013
“Idil Biret deservedly belongs among the most important leading musicians on the Naxos label. Her Chopin can be recognized blindfold after a few notes. I regard her Schumann – Debussy – Tchaikovsky disc as a real jewel. Schumann’s Childhood Dreams are seen through the eyes of an adult.”
– Klassik Forum (Germany)
“Idil Biret takes the opening movement of Schumann’s Kinderszenen very briskly and impetuously, but the performance then settles down and is sensitive and well characterized. Good recording, recommendable.”
– Penguin Guide (UK)
“In 1959 Pretoria (France) entrusted the young pianist Idil Biret the recordings of Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 and Brahms’ Intermezzi, Op. 117. Thus began a recording career of extraordinary importance, which was only discovered in the West over the years. Biret is an extremely versatile performer with an assimilative capacity comparable to that of the greatest pianists. In reality, the Turkish pianist is one of them.”
– Ritmo (Spain) 2011
“Schumann’s Piano Concerto had a fascinating rendering by the admirable Turk Idil Biret which must be very close to that of the very first performance of the concerto by Clara Schumann on 4 December 1845.”
– Reutlingen General-Anzeiger (Germany) 1980