Brahms: Songs Vol 1

Angelika Kirchschlager (mezzo soprano), Graham Johnson (piano)Hyperion CDJ 33121 **

Brahms’s solo piano music is accounted for by just 16 of his 122 opus numbers. His songs take twice as many, even before you factor in vocal duets or quartets. Hyperion, who established an enviable reputation with their complete Schubert song series, and have since explored the likes of Schumann and Fauré, have now got around to Brahms.

Sadly, the first instalment, from German mezzo soprano Angelika Kirchschlager, is not quite on target. The actual singing is that bit too effortful, the shaping of line sometimes billowy, sometimes almost perfunctory. Quite early on she seems to be having to heave her voice around at the conflicted climax of the wonderful Von ewiger Liebe, and the calm firmness which follows it seems tonally dried out – the recorded acoustic does her no favours. The ever-supportive pianist Graham Johnson also provides his usual meaty printed annotations. See hyperion-records.co.uk