Songs of Robert Schumann, Vol. 08 (Incls 'Sechs fruhe Lieder, WoO121')

Christopher Maltaman again demonstrates his masterful yet intimately communicative performances and is joined by the glorious tenor Mark Padmore, and fellow baritone and rapidly rising star, New Zealander, Jonathan Lemalu.

The disc includes comprehensive and fascinating notes supplied by Graham Johnson, that fill out every detail of the genesis, context and publication (or not) of these wonderful works.

As with Volume 7 and elsewhere in his wide-ranging treasure-trove catalogue of song recordings, Graham Johnson has chosen to frame an important set of songs with groups of single songs, an appropriate recital-like gesture that is particularly right for these works, since they have so many beguiling echoes amongst each other.

Many here are little-known treasures from his early youth, fresh and experimental, which set us up for the outpouring of song that came in 1840 onwards, the date of the divinely inspired Liederkreis. Christopher Maltman adds this to a growing list of masterful yet intimately communicative performances in this series that draw us in effect to the composer's very heart.

Maltman is joined in this recital by the glorious tenor Mark Padmore, and fellow baritone and rapidly-rising star Jonathan Lemalu. This is Lemalu's first disc with Hyperion. And as ever, the disc includes comprehensive and fascinating notes supplied by Graham Johnson, that fill out every detail of the genesis, context and publication (or not!) of these wonderful works.