Dylan Perez’s pianism is consistently insightful without obtruding – a tall order for any accompanist – and his curating of the entire project is masterly...These two discs undoubtedly set a new benchmark in Barber’s vocal music, and every art song lover should have them.

Part of the pleasure of this lovely set lies in the variety of marvellous young voices on display, with Barron and Dandy making especially ravishing contributions in Opp. 18 and 45 respectively and Spence (so wonderfully supported by Perez in the composer's own piano reduction) capturing the aching beauty of Knoxville to perfection. Add in Perez's unfailingly idiomatic playing and the chance to hear some of the early posthumously-published songs for the first time on disc, and I'd say you have a hot contender come awards season…

Curated by Dylan Perez, whose playing throughout is sublime and profoundly intuitive, cycles such as Two Songs (with Barron), Hermit Songs (Bevan) and Despite and Still (Sedgewick) trace Barber’s remarkable assurance and growth as a composer for voice, with all of the soloists relishing the contrasts in his writing between sparkling light and levity and crepuscular shade.

One of the recording’s pleasures is the way the songs come to life through 10 different characters, but with Perez as a constant, eloquent presence (he plays on all the songs save Dover Beach). As a characterful overview of Barber’s songwriting – and equally as a snapshot of emerging vocal talent – this is a very rewarding collection.