FLAC tracks | Classical | 02:17:22 | 1CD | 497 MbA song recital new to CD from a peerless lyric soprano, coupled with classic recordings of Ravel and Verdi.

In 1971 Andrew Porter wrote that Margaret Price’s voice was among the things that make one ‘glad to be alive’.

In the 1960s she had recorded for a small Welsh label a recital of Welsh, German and Italian songs that would become signature items for her over the coming decades.

Reissued in 1969 by L’Oiseau-Lyre, the album makes it to CD for the first time in this compilation.

In favourites such as Schubert’s Heidenröslein, Verdi’s Ave maria and five Welsh folksongs, Price is on sovereign form, with a gleaming upper register and engagingly fresh phrasing.

Also from the early 70s is a rare foray into contemporary music inspired by her Welsh heritage, with Alun Hoddinott’s setting of a text by Emyr Humphries, Roman Dream.

Tracklist:01. Bellini: Almen se non poss’io02. Donizetti: La conocchia03. Verdi: Ave Maria04. Rossini: L’Invito05. Schubert: Du bist die Ruh’, D.77606. Schubert: Heidenröslein, D.25707. Schubert: Gretchens Bitte, D.56408. Schubert: Die Forelle, D.55009. Traditional: Y bore glas10. Traditional: Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn11. Traditional: Wrth Fynd Efo Deio I Dowyn12. Traditional: Dafydd y Garreg Wen13. Traditional: Y Deryn Pur14. Tate: Three Gaelic Ballads-1. The Lake of Coolfin15. Tate: Three Gaelic Ballads-2. Hark! The Soft Bugle16. Tate: Three Gaelic Ballads-3. Hush Song17. Hoddinott: Roman Dream, Op.5418. Berg: 5 Orchesterlieder nach Ansichtskartentexten von Peter Altenberg-1. Seele, wie bist du schöner19. Berg: 5 Orchesterlieder nach Ansichtskartentexten von Peter Altenberg-2. Sahst du nach dem Gewitterregen20. Berg: 5 Orchesterlieder nach Ansichtskartentexten von Peter Altenberg-3. Über die Grenzen des All21. Berg: 5 Orchesterlieder nach Ansichtskartentexten von Peter Altenberg-4. Nichts ist gekommen22. Berg: 5 Orchesterlieder nach Ansichtskartentexten von Peter Altenberg-5. Hier ist Friede23. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano / Seste Romanze II-1. Il tramonto24. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano-La seduzione25. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano / Seste Romanze II-3. Ad una stella26. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano / Seste Romanze II-4. Lo spazzacamino27. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano / Seste Romanze I-5. Perduta ho la pace28. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano / Seste Romanze I-Deh, pietoso, oh Addolorata29. Verdi: Chi i bei dì m’adduce ancora30. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano / Seste Romanze II-2. La zingara31. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano-L’esule32. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano / Seste Romanze I-1. Non t’accostare all’urna33. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano / Seste Romanze I-3. In solitaria stanza34. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano / Seste Romanze I-4. Nell’orror di notte oscura35. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano-Il poveretto36. Verdi: Songs for Voice and Piano-Stornello37. Verdi: Ave Maria (arr. for Soprano and Piano)38. Ravel: Shéhérazade, M.41-1. Asie39. Ravel: Shéhérazade, M.41-2. La flûte enchantée40. Ravel: Shéhérazade, M.41-3. L’indifférent