makes a vivid and spacious overall impression thanks to the alternately measured and passionate sway of Markus Stenz and the golden tones of the Gurzenich Orchestra. It is also strongly cast with the heroic Brandon Jovanovich and the full-voiced Barbara Haveman as the illicit lovers.

Live recording’s cast is swept along with élan by conductor Markus Stenz.

Excellent performances throughout from orchestra, soloists and choruses – rarely have the lush textures of Schoenberg’s late-Romantic cantata sounded this fresh.

The star of the set is undoubtedly tenor Brandon Jovanovich as Waldemar; his baritonal timbre suits the piece well, particularly the relatively low writing given to him for his first entry, but his top notes ring when necessary...the Cologne woodwind are on top form, as indeed is everyone in this fine new recording of a wonderfully colourful and dramatic piece.

This superb performance crowns Stenz’s tenure as Cologne’s general music director, with opulent playing from the Gürzenichers and six Cologne and Dutch choirs. Brandon Jovanovich’s thrilling Waldemar and Claudia Mahnke’s plangent Wood Dove are the pick of a fine team of soloists.

a good resumé of Stenz’s qualities, his confidence in handling massive forces and his affinity with music composed on the cusp of modernism; he’s at his best in passages such as the orchestral interlude that precedes the Song of the Wood Dove...and the Wild Hunt of the Summer Wind.

Not only does Markus Stenz secure a marvellously eloquent and superbly coordinated response from his massed choral and orchestral forces, his supple, authoritative conception harnesses impressive long-term rigour to a keen poetic and dramatic instinct...Hearty plaudits to all involved.