Brahms’s early songs express an exuberance that may surprise those who are unfamiliar with this element of his music making. The Op.6 set includes a Mediterranean-flavoured song in bolero rhythm and songs of hope and joy, displaying an apparent simplicity that was hard-won and the product of constant refinement. Based on folk songs, the Op.14 collection is astonishingly varied, ranging from folk melodies to medieval harmonies and Baroque-styled richness. Elsewhere Brahms charts more melodious, elegiac settings in the Op.19 set and confronts melancholy and loss in Op.48.

The first volume in the series received huge acclaim: ‘The artists field a terrifically compelling start with two of Brahms’ best-known and most moving songs, “Von ewiger Liebe” and “Die Mainacht”. This sixty-five-minutes of music makes an auspicious start to Eisenlohr’s latest endeavour’ (Opera News). It also won Opera News’s Critics’ Choice accolade.

Vol.3 can be heard on 8574346: ‘Alina Wunderlin is a wonderfully pure-voiced soprano, as we hear in “Es steht ein Lind in jenem Tal”…All in all, this is wonderful. The singers are superbly chosen and perfect for this repertoire. Ulrich Eisenlohr does not put a finger wrong (he provides the fine booklet notes, too), and the recording is good, too’ (Classical Explorer).