Royal Academy of Music Soloists Ensemble & Trevor Pinnock - Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen - Classical CD Review

The LINN SACD is a rather odd collection of music either written or arranged for chamber orchestra (there are only 17 players in the Royal Acacdemy). It begins with Mahler's Songs of a Wayfarer is heard arranged by Arnold Schoenberg's with Gareth Brynamor Jones as soloist. He is a member of the Royal Academy of Music and his performance of Mahler's song cycle is admirable. The other participating young artist is mezzo Kate Bray, also associated with the Academy. She sings the six songs of Zemlinsky originally written for voice and piano, here arranged by Christopher Austin for for voice and a chamber orchestra. The other two works were originally composed for chamber orchestra, the lovely Busoni Berceuse and Wagner's Siegfried Idyll, the first performance of which on Christmas Day 1870 was played by only 13 players. This program was recorded in St. George's, Bristol, February 2014. Audio is excellent although not particularly "surround." Complete texts are provided.