A second disc from new chamber choir Consortium, who were acclaimed for their disc of Brahms's secular partsongs. Although Reger's music has partly recovered from its deeply unfashionable reputation, much of this prolific composer's work still remains underperformed. This disc offers a chance to redress the balance, both by bringing to light an aspect of Reger's output that has been relatively neglected, and by demonstrating that the important influences on him were not just musical but literary. Like his near contemporaries, Mahler, Strauss, Wolf and Zemlinsky, Reger responded deeply and imaginatively to the German Romantic poetic tradition. The works recorded here set many of the same poets (and even some of the same poems) that were popular among his colleagues, with a sensitivity and intuitive understanding that belie Reger's reputation for stodgy academicism. Richard Stokes's comment, that 'Reger does not always lose out in comparison' (when he and Strauss set the same texts as Lieder), could apply equally well to his choral music.

Songlist: Der Einsiedler, Drei Sechsstimmige Chore, Schweigen, Abendied, Fruhlingblick, Drei Chore, Trost, Zur Nacht, Abendied, Drei Gesange, Im Himmerlreich ein Haus Steht, Abendgang im Lenz, Er Ist's, Palmsonntagmorgen, Requiem

The six German men who call themselves Die Singphoniker are virtuosos who specialize in very difficult pieces, from Gregorian chant to the Avantgarde, in this case bringing us some rarely-heard works of Romantic European music, partsongs by Richard Strauss and Max Reger. New interpreters of vocal chamber music of the 19th century, the group's success is measured in many awards and rave reviews: its last five CDs have received prizes. Included are 20 pieces, favorites are "Frohlich im Maien," "Hut du dich!," "Liebe op. 42,1," and Der Brauttanz op. 45,3" by Strauss; and "Liebchens Bote," Frohsinn op. 38,5," "Hochsommernacht op. 83,5" and "Minnelied op. 83,7" by Reger. Difficult, eclectic choral music, effortlessly and beautifully performed.

Songlist: Vor den Turen, Traumlicht, Frohlich im Maien, Hut du dich!, Der Gutzgauch, Liebe, Tummel dich, gut's Weinlein, Schwabische Erbschaft, Lied der Freundschaft, Der Brauttanz, Max Reger:, Liebchens Bote, Ausfahrt, Wie ist doch die Erde so schon, Frohsinn, Hell ins Fenster, Lieblich hat sich gesellet, Hochsommernacht, Ein gantz neu Schelmweys, Minnelied, Abschied