Beethoven Songs and Folksongs

At the heart of this programme of Beethoven songs, performed by Ian Bostridge and Sir Antonio Pappano, is the ground-breaking song cycle An die ferne Geliebte (To the distant beloved). Bostridge describes it as "the distillation of Beethoven as lover".

Among the other items are the rapturously lyrical 'Adelaide', the sombre 'In questa tomba oscura' and a selection of Beethoven's settings of folksongs from the British Isles. For these, the tenor and pianist are joined by violinist Vilde Frang and cellist Nicolas Altstaedt. "When we all play together," says Pappano, "it's like a family making music at home."

Reviewing the recital, Gramophone writes: "Bostridge makes the songs his own in a performance that is never less than engaging and, as usual, conveys an unflinching and persuasive belief in the material ... This is a valuable and persuasive album."