Barber: I hear an army

This is a pretty stunning achievement. At his most mellifluous and focused, Gerald Finley has beauty of tone to spare. But he is also at his most expressive – hollowing out the voice for the hopelessness of the song “Bessie Bobtail”, letting it splinter with anger at the climax of the brief, furious “Sea Snatch”. Throughout, Julius Drake proves a predictably accomplished, thoughtful partner. The pair move easily and logically from the prettiness of the very early songs through the complexities of the Hermit Songs and the pensive Mélodies passagères. It’s a canny move to place Dover Beach as the final track. The introduction of the string quartet to close the disc shifts the mood, sending us off in another direction. It comes as a hopeful reminder of the wonder of love, even with a sting in its tail. Entirely appropriate for a bittersweet, marvellous collection. - Gramophone Magazine

“there is Samuel Barber, up there where he belongs with the very best that song has to offer. His two James Joyce settings are stunning. Antoine Palloc plays it here with an awareness and strength of purpose that mark out his contributions throughout the disc.” “Jennifer Larmore has chosen with care. It feels like a personal choice, sung with personal concern, this young woman from Atlanta, Georgia, seems to know where it’s coming from.” Gramophone, December 1997