The quality of the singing is generally high. The hundred or so songs in the set from Capriccio are certainly all sung with sensitivity, gentleness and a great deal of sympathy towards their world and what they meant to Schoenberg. The singers’ techniques are for the most part very pleasing. Melanie Diener’s soprano…has a fuller vocal production and seems closer to the songs and thus abler to convey their full meaning. Her articulation and expression in the “Acht Lieder”, Op. 6…for instance, are compelling… full of pathos, projection and warmth.

Similarly, baritone Konrad Jarnot sings most convincingly…he delights in taking the songs at face value, in assuming almost nothing about what we should or should not make of this corner of Schoenberg’s œuvre. Special mention must be made of Urs Liska’s clean, persuasive and idiomatic piano accompaniment across all four CDs…particularly admirable is his breadth of confident and perceptive playing, which both supports the singers and draws our interest as the music progresses.

Jens Peters Jakobsen’s texts…which became those of the Gurrelieder, are of particular interest. They are sung particularly well by Diener and tenor Markus Schäfer…These are the original piano versions with two voices. One can already sense the lush and searing sound world into which Schoenberg was later to reach. Here though both singers perform the songs for what they are; not what they would become. The interpretation of singers and pianist is warm, compelling and has an atmosphere that stays with you long after the final strident…

This set has a lot going for it, then. Not only is it as complete as anything else available. It’s been carefully conceived, imaginatively executed and well presented. There are songs here that are unavailable elsewhere.

The acoustic on these CDs is close and makes them accessible without being pressing. The booklet contains useful essays and surveys, full track listings and brief biographies of the performers…Certainly a set of historical interest. © 2012 Classical Net Read complete review

The singing here is accurate, beautiful and exemplary. Claudia Barainsky and Melanie Diener are the sopranos, Anke Vondung the mezzo, Christa Mayer the contralto, Markus Schäffer the tenor and Konrad Jarnot the head-and-shoulders standout baritone. Urs Liska accompanies, and the sound could not be better. Throw out your old recordings of Schoenberg songs: this is the set to have. © 2012 Lebrecht Report/La Scena Musicale Read complete review