BBC Music Magazine: outstanding; Music Web International: outstanding. Brahms's two string sextets date from 1859-60 and 1864-5 respectively - a period characterized by several commentators as the composer's 'first maturity'. While this judgement may well be somewhat patronising towards the earlier music, it nevertheless points to a central truth about the works of that time, that they embody many of the distinctive features of Brahms's creative mission in a newly focused, refined and synthesized way, with influences assimilated and harnessed, an assured mastery of technique, and increased expressive definition and diversity.