Although recorded in 2010 and 2013 and released in Europe in 2016 Barbara Hendricks’ recording of Mahler Lieder on her own Arte Verum label has only recently been released in North America.  It’s quite an interesting choice of works.  Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and the Abschied from Das Lied von der Erde are given in the Schoenberg chamber arrangements.  The Rückert Lieder come in the piano version.

The performances throughout show considerable artistry but the voice is clearly past its best.  There’s some sense of strain, even in the Rückert Lieder and some slightly wobbly intonation.  Not, I think, the very best versions available of any of the works but interesting in their own way.  The accompaniments by the Swedish Chamber Ensemble conducted by Love Derwinger (who also plays piano) are lovely and delicate though and the whole generously filled disc is very well recorded.  The trilingual booklet includes texts and a couple of essays.