The vast majority of Sibelius's songs are in Swedish, the language with which he grew up as a child, and here they're given by a distinguished native Swedish partnership. The Seven Songs, Op 13, are all Runeberg settings and come from the composer's early years (1891-2). Best known, perhaps, are 'Spring is flying' and 'The dream', but there are others, such as 'The young hunter', that are no less delightful and characterful.
The other Runeberg settings here, the Six Songs, Op 90, come towards the end of Sibelius's career as a song composer (1917-18). 'The north', as in all the nature poetry of Runeberg, touches a very special vein of inspiration. Along with 'Die stille Nacht', Op 50 No 5, which is equally affectingly given by these two artists – it's among his finest songs. Interest naturally focuses on the rarities.
The Wood Nymph, not to be confused with the melodrama or the tone-poem, is recorded here for the first time. As well as A Song, there are two other early Runeberg settings, the 1888 Serenade and Resemblance, both of them also premiere recordings. 'The Jewish Girl's Song' will be familiar from the incidental music to Belshazzar'sFeast, and is affecting in this form – particularly sung as it is here. Given the artistry and insight of this splendid partnership, and the interest and beauty of the repertoire, this is a self-recommending issue.