This is soprano Emma Bell's debut recording which was described as "one of the best vocal albums of the year". Much admired for her richly coloured, beautiful voice as well as her sensitive musicianship and dramatic intensity in performance, Emma’s exquisitely controlled, powerful soprano makes the most of the dynamism and sheer beauty of these both famous and less well-known songs.

Emma researched the songs by Bruno Walter on the disc in some depth, and has uncovered some forgotten gems. Joseph Marx’s songs have been described as "soft warm breezes from the South!", due to Italian influences on their Austrian romanticism, and the powerful quality of Emma’s vocal emphasizes their potency.

Strauss’s songs need little introduction. This disc offers an interesting selection, fitting with the work of his less celebrated contemporaries.