One of the finest Mahlerians of our time, Dame Sarah Connolly brings her fierce intellect and glorious voice to the music she has spent a life-time studying and performing. In the first release of series curat- ed and performed by Joseph Middleton that will champion the complete piano accompanied Lieder of Mahler, the ‘superlative’ (New York Times) duo of Connolly and Middleton, present the three great song cycles of Mahler: Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen, Fünf Rückert Lieder and Kindertotenlieder. This is the first time Sarah has performed all three cycles on one album, which she is justly famous the world over for performing with rare insight and consummate artistry. Her voice is the perfect Mahlerian instrument.
“[Sarah Connolly] These songs suit her so well…She has the range in every sense, and so does Joseph Middleton’s articulate and beautifully weighted and coloured piano playing” – BBC Radio 3 Record Review
★★★★ “Isn’t there an extra urgency and depth of emotion about her delivery? Listen how she strokes and kisses the word ‘liebe’ …feel the intense sorrow engulfing her in the final Kindertontenlieder…whatever she sings, you get singing straight from the heart. You also get beautifully nuanced piano playing from Middleton, a musician seeminhly incapable of misjudging the careful balancing act necessary when accompanying lieder” – The Times
★★★★ Performance ★★★★ Recording “Sarah Connolly is too fine a Mahler singer not to let us relish this collection…her rapport with top lieder pianist Joseph Middleton allows for some very special interchanges, and his playing of ‘Ich bin de Welt…’ … is up there for top artistry…Well worth having if you live this mezzo – and who doesn’t?” – BBC Music Magazine