Dvorak: Vier Lieder, Op. 2

"A wholly delectable disc, and one that should win many new friends for these songs in the composer's centenary year." CHORAL & SONG DISC OF THE MONTH, BBC Music Magazine, August 2004

“An all-Dvorák song recital may still seem a luxury.
The Gypsy Songs, and not just their famous fourth ('Songs my mother taught me'), have found a secure place in the repertoire, but not much else is heard at all regularly either in recital or on disc.
They may lack the variety of mood to constitute a fully satisfying programme on their own, but they never fail to give pleasure. One cause of the continued unfamiliarity of the B160 set is that Czech is an alien language to most recitalists. Not, however, to the Argentinian mezzo Bernarda Fink, who comes from a Slovenian family, lived in Prague for a while and has made a special study of Czech music. Her diction is very clear. Her tone is rich and deep, and the manner has warmth and dignity, though these seem to be its limits. If you come to the Gypsy Songs with Anne Sofie von Otter's recording in mind, you'll miss, in Fink's singing, a lot of colour, imagination and temperament.
But there may be some relief, too. Her recording with Bengt Forsberg is exciting but assertive. Fink and Vignoles may prove more companionable. But this new issue is most welcome: tasteful and often lovely performances and a generously comprehensive selection.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“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