Graham Johnson’s monumental and triumphant complete Schumann Songs edition comes to an end with an eleventh disc of rarities and delights. The first issue in the Hyperion edition of Schuman’s songs, with the soprano Christine Schäfer, included a number of the composer’s later lieder, and with this last issue we come full circle in returning to some of the least known songs music seldom heard on the concert platform. Hanno Müller-Brachmann appears in his debut recording for Hyperion. As well as a devoted lieder singer who has performed with some of the greatest pianists, he is also a considerable presence on the world’s opera stages and an acclaimed interpreter of Bach’s Passions. He brings all these qualities to this fascinating disc.

Various duets and ensemble pieces are included on this disc and feature familiar and well-loved singers from elsewhere in this series, as well as the winner of the 2008 Kathleen Ferrier Prize: Katherine Broderick. The release is complemented by Graham Johnson’s renowned booklet notes, which make these discs things of such inestimable value.



DAILY TELEGRAPH CLASSICAL CD OF THE WEEK

'A real disc of discovery: this is Schumann as he is seldom heard. In this final volume of his revelatory Schumann Songs series, Graham Johnson perceptively writes about, accompanies and presents still more rarities, in the voices of both loyal colleagues and of younger singers whom he keenly champions … Altogether touching and persuasive performances' (BBC Music Magazine)

'This disc goes far to vindicating some of Schumann's least-favoured late songs, not least due to Graham Johnson's eloquent advocacy, in print and in performance' (Gramophone)

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Recording details: Various dates; All Saints, Durham Road, East Finchley, London, United Kingdom; Produced by Various producers; Engineered by Various engineers; Release date: January 2009;