One of the finest Mahlerians of our time, Dame Sarah Connolly brings her fierce intellect and glorious voice to the music she has spent a life-time studying and performing. In the first release of series curated and performed by Joseph Middleton that will champion the complete piano accompanied Lieder of Mahler, the 'superlative' (New York Times) duo of Connolly and Middleton, present the three great song cycles of Mahler: Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen, Fünf Rückert Lieder and Kindertotenlieder. This is the first time Sarah has performed all three cycles on one album, which she is justly famous the world over for performing with rare insight and consummate artistry. Her voice is the perfect Mahlerian instrument. "It is such an enormous honour to have made this recording for Signum with Sarah, the greatest possible advocate for this repertoire. Sarah and I have been performing together for a decade and the music of Mahler has run through that period of my life like a well-spring, bringing countless hours of profound enjoyment, self-reflection, and indeed gratitude that music of such quality and humanity exists for both performer and audience alike. Mahler's music can teach us so much about the human condition, our connection with nature and our empathy towards other humans. A deep spirituality is built into every bar he writes. Performing this music with Sarah never fails to teach me something new about being a musician and being an artist and I'm so grateful that Signum have given me the opportunity to record all the piano accompanied songs by Mahler." Joseph Middleton