Unquenchable yearning, heartrending grief, ardent desire – in Gustav Mahler’s songs the romantic emotional world doubtless rises to magnificent heights.

This new recording of the piano versions with Gerhild Romberger and Alfredo Perl demonstrate that the piano versions uncover respectful relations to models such as Schubert’s Winterreise; just listen to the tormented tone of the four Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen!

Five songs grouped together today as the Rückert-Lieder round off the program. They include a very personal “Liebst du um Schönheit” dedicated by the composer to his wife Alma following their marriage.

Significantly, Mahler did not orchestrate this song. Romberg and Perl’s interpretation of these very personal songs conveys special intimacy and authenticity thanks to the finely tuned Steinway Grand Piano “Manfred Bürki” (1901) - a precisely balanced SACD recording.