Garben

I became sceptical when I noted that such a young singer had chosen to record at once these two late sets by Brahms and Wolf. They ought to be the province of baritones and basses (preferably the latter) of mature years, who have garnered the vocal and emotional experience to make the most of two of the profoundest compositions in all the field of Lieder. My scepticism was all too readily confirmed in listening to Schmidt tackle each.

Pettersson's fame, or notoriety as it were, rests with his dour, frothing at the mouth rants in the form of large symphonies. His songs date from early in his career, and reveal a different composer altogether. The Twenty-four Barefoot Songs from 1935, which make up this collection's core, have a charming, folk-like simplicity in their strophic forms and modest performing demands. If you like Grieg's or Nielsen's songs, you'll certainly warm to these wistful bonbons……An attractive release.

Jed Distler @ Amazon.com

Hector Berlioz, France’s greatest Romantic composer, exemplifies the spirit of his age – yet his genius was also ahead of its time. Reflecting his colourful life, his music is astonishing for its originality and ambition, and for orchestration of groundbreaking brilliance. This, the first-ever complete Berlioz edition, comprises carefully selected recordings and even includes works completely new to the catalogue. The accompanying booklet, lavishly illustrated, contains a fascinating commentary from Berlioz biographer David Cairns, whose words bring the composer’s music still more vividly to life.

This is the best – the noblest, the grandest, the most tragic – Ballade in G minor ever recorded. This is the best – the most virtuostic, the most colorful, the most imaginative – set of Book I Preludes ever recorded. This is the best – the most Romantic, the most heartfelt, the funniest – Carnaval ever recorded. This is the best – the most elegant, the most witty, the most athletic – recording of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 ever recorded.

In this edition Deutsche Grammophon brings together for the first time all the performances by pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli that have appeared on the "Yellow Label" as well as the legendary early recordings of Beethoven and Scarlatti made for DECCA. Excellent documentation includes numerous rare photographs and a new appreciation of the enigmatic pianist by DG producer, conductor and longtime Michelangeli collaborator Cord Garben.