MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Szymanowski: Songs of a Fairytale Princess, Op. 31 / Hafiz' Love-Songs, Op. 26

"Always supreme in Szymanowski, Simon Rattle returns to his old stomping ground for these orchestral songs. The Birmingham band welcome him with full-blooded commitment and an almost hypnotically rich orchestral palette. Essential for fans of this composer."
Editor's Choice Gramophone Magazine Nov 2006

Five Stars (Choral choice of the Month) BBC Music Mag (Oct 06)

The Times gave an ecstatic 5-star review for Rattle's performances of Harnasie in 2002. It was subsequently recorded at Symphony Hall in Birmingham for this release: "Simon Rattle's return "home" for two concerts with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra also means this time a hugely welcome return to the music of Karol Szymanowski ... Rattle delivered a performance of rapturous intensity that will not easily be forgotten … [He] excels in this kind of music, and here Szymanowski's rich orchestral tapestry had everything from a sense of wild mystery to coruscating brilliance."