Lieder

"Everything about this disc is a delight: the music, the singing, the piano-playing. (Henschel's) beautifully graded singing, subtly coloured in tone and expression, is outstanding throughout."
***** Five Stars (Pick of the Month) BBC Music Magazine (Nov 02)

"The German baritone, recently signed away from Warner's Erato imprint, offers a string of premiere recordings and, in the case of at least nine of the album's 36 songs, first performances of Korngold's richly romantic lieder. Henschel has the effortless technique, musical intelligence and emotional depths necessary to extract the most from the Vier Lieder der Abschieds, works inspired by the slaughter of World War I."
Billboard (14 Sep 2002)

"Whether in the aching Abschiedslieder or in any of the previously unrecorded songs, [Henschel] is the warmest possible guide through the world of these Late Romantic gems."
Andrew Clarke, The Independent, 19-25 October 2002, *****

"The vocal and stylistic range required is colossal, and baritone Dietrich Henschel confirms his status as today's most versatile lieder singer in performances that combine passion with tenderness, and sensuality with urbane wit. Helmut Deutsch is exemplary as his accompanist."
- The Guardian (UK)

Korngold left around forty songs, composed between 1911 and 1952. This recording contains many first recordings, including songs transcribed from the manuscripts and performed here for the very first time. Although it belongs to the great German Romantic song tradition, Korngold's style is nonetheless distinguished by its freedom of form and of poetic interpretation.