Mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly and pianist Joseph Middleton have produced a CD with three of Mahler’s best known song cycles; the Rückert-Lieder, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and the Kindertotenlieder.  It’s a very fine recording.  Both performers are, of course, expert recitalists and they take quite an individual way with these well known pieces.  In general they are quite slow (less so in the Rückert songs than the other two sets) but very clearly articulated.  The phrasing, by both singer and pianist, is very deliberate and sometimes quite individual.  This is most pronounced in the Rückert songs.  It’s an interesting approach which I enjoyed.

The recording is fine.  It was made in St. George’s Bristol in April 2021 and it’s well balanced, clear and natural.  It will be available as a physical CD and in digital formats ranging from MP3 to 192kHz/24bit FLAC.  I listened to the hi-res version.  The booklet has plenty of useful information and full texts and English translations.

So, an interesting and enjoyable, if rather individual, record from two serious Mahlerians.  Definitely worth a listen.

The release date is July 28th 2023 and the catalogue number is Signum SIGCD741.