This is the first solo album by the bass Franz-Josef Selig, who has of course been one of the most significant bass voices for years in opera. Now he takes on the bass Lieder of three important Lieder specialists together with his accompanist Gerold Huber.

Franz-Josef Selig has made his personal reflection on the selection of Lieder on this CD: ....." a sombre collection of lieder such as this one does not have to be taken at face value as something merely sinister or depressing, but hopefully also as an invitation to face our own mortality with courage: an ongoing attempt to prepare for that which is intangible and unavoidable. How wonderful, then, if one day we could say to Nature, like the poet in Richard Strauss’s song Das Tal: “So quietly open your mouth, accept me, close it once more, and go on blooming, healthy and cheerful as always”.