<p>Myrtle & Rose features two of Robert Schumann's most beloved song cycles Liederkreis Opp. 24 and 39 - alongside several rarely-recorded songs by his wife Clara, in a beautifully captured partnership of tenor Kyle Stegall and fortepianist Eric Zivian. <p>Myrtle & Rose - the title taken from the Heinrich Heine poem which Robert Schumann set as the final song of his Liederkreis, Op. 24 - features two of his most beloved song cycles (the other being Liederkreis, Op. 39) along with several rarely-recorded songs by his wife Clara. The album beautifully captures the artistic partnership of tenor Kyle Stegall and fortepianist Eric Zivian, who first collaborated at the Valley of the Moon Music Festival in Sonoma, California. Stegall's "lovely tone and ardent expression" (The New York Times) and Eric Zivian's original 1841 Rausch fortepiano from Vienna built exactly when the songs were written combine in these inspired and illuminating interpretations. The release celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Clara Schumann. A unique bonus is the inclusion of Kyle Stegall's new English translations of the sung texts in the booklet. <p>CRITICAL ACCLAIM "a gentle tone that melted the hearts of all" - OperaWire on Kyle Stegall <p>"the last word in low key virtuosity" - San Francisco Classical Voice on Eric Zivian