Strauss, R: Befreit, Op. 39 No. 4

"If you are lucky, a song recitalist will take you to the edge of an inner world. A select few know how to draw you in further. And then there’s Amanda Roocroft. Her peachy soprano may be what we hear, but it is her heart that does the singing… This recital revealed Roocroft at the peak of her powers – a fully matured artist who combines technical and interpretative control with emotional freedom…. Such sincerity of feeling is only possible from someone who has lived a life. The striking quality about “None but the lonely heart” was the manner in which art concealed art – one of Roocroft’s golden charms. ..A rapturous “Ständchen”… impossible not to be swept along by “Heimliche Aufforderung”, and the ecstatic ardour of “Befreit” was overwhelming. Roocroft understands that the essence of the art song is not its outer beauty of form but its inner depth of feeling. She is a national treasure." (Financial Times on her 2007 recital - 25 May 2007)

“A warm voice and an involved accompanist grace this enjoyable recital.” Gramophone Magazine, February 2008

“…there are certainly some five-star performances here - and Strauss's relatively unfamiliar 'Glückes genug' hints that she may make an Arabella of ideal candour and dignity.” BBC Music Magazine, January 2008 ****

“An outstanding recital by an excellent young tenor singing superb Strauss… [Davislim] is worth being spoken of in the same breath as his notable predecessors – Peter Anders and Fritz Wunderlich – praise can hardly be higher than that.” Gramophone “The years drop off Richard Strauss... in this new disc of his orchestrated songs... [Davislim’s] lithe, rhythmically and verbally alert tenor has the red blood surging from the start...” BBC Music Magazine (on Original CD Release)

“Hendricks doesn't have the richness of voice ideal for Strauss, but she is intelligent, and her accompaniests, whether on the piano or with orchestra, are models of helpfulness and taste.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2008 ***

“Fassbender is an understanding, sympathetic and, above all, straightforward guide to this music. The recording… deserves hearing for both its interesting juxtaposition of repertoire and the unaffected sincerity of the performances…” Gramophone Magazine, April 2008

‘Could there be a more enticing title stamped across a CD than Strauss: The Complete Songs – 1? Richard Strauss the man may be widely resistible; but it would take someone extraordinarily hard-hearted not to take any delight in his luxuriant imagination and succulent harmonies … each planned CD in the series will be shaped around the talents of different singers, and Brewer’s disc marks a tremendous start’ (The Times)