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“The real stars of the show, though, are Wolfram Rieger whose delicately imagined piano accompaniments illuminate every second of the programme; and Hampson himself - magnificent not only in Dvořák's Gypsy and Biblical songs, but in the strong, primitive contours of American-Indian songs set, in true National-Romantic style, by Arthur Farwell and Charles Wakefield Cadman, and in Ives's own 'Songs my Mother taught me'.” BBC Music Magazine, December 2005 ****

“It was the brainchild of Thomas Hampson, who contributes some of the key sections in this fascinating survey of Dvořák as song-composer and the influences both on him and from him. Hampson's four Gypsy Songs include the most famous of all, usually translated as 'Songs my mother taught me', before a half-hour devoted to 13 of Dvořák's Moravian Duets, enchantingly sung by Bonney and Breedt... The final 'World of Faith' section, provides a satisfying climax: Brahms's Four Serious Songs are beautifully sung by George Zeppenfeld, with velvet tone, Mahler's Knaben Wunderhorn setting 'Urlicht', later used in the Resurrection Symphony, is sung by Breedt, and five of Dvořák's Biblical Songs are powerfully and sensitively delivered by Hampson. Altogether an illuminating package.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2006

“Ludwig excels herself in a deeply moving, strongly characterized reading of the Wayfaring Lad songs. The spontaneity of the performance makes up for any incidental flaws of the moment, with the voice gloriously rich and firm...every word is clear” Penguin Guide, 2010 ***