Elise Caluwaerts; Marianna Shirinyan - Alma - Meine Seele. Complete Songs of Alma Mahler

Mostly written in her youth, Alma Mahler�s Lieder are rarely performed, yet each one is a musical gem that forms an important part of the Romantic song repertoire. This album is the first recording that includes all 17 of her songs. Like her personality, Alma�s songs are mysterious, complex and profound and take the listener on a kaleidoscopic voyage where different layers in text and music can simultaneously express blistering religious sentiments, overwhelming eroticism and profound tenderness. With a rich and velvety sound Elise Caluwaerts reveals the full depths of this music: refined details are portrayed with appealing intimacy, exuberant, roller coaster-like chromatic lines are savoured, and text is interpreted with mouth-watering expertise. She is joined on this symbiotic journey by star pianist Marianna Shirinyan who performs on a Steinway from 1899 that exactly mirrors the colourful and warm piano sound that Alma had in mind when composing these beautiful songs.