The virtue of the pianist Alexander Schmalcz’s orchestrations for baritone Matthias Goerne, his regular recital partner, is that he strives to hold faith with what he reads as Schubert ’s intentions, even if there are beguiling hints of Mahler and Wagner to be heard...It’s the painterly colours that Goerne finds in the voice which makes him such an expressive artist in a song like ‘Abendstern’.

His trademark concentration of feeling, allied to Schmalcz’s subtly changing colourings, ensures that the attention is held throughout.

Schmalcz’s orchestrations never seek to gild the lily or to push the singer into a more operatic form of delivery - textures are beautifully uncluttered, leaving Goerne free to sculpt and colour phrases with the utmost subtlety and intimacy...In his insightful booklet-note Goerne writes affectionately of Schubert’s ability to strike ‘a perfect balance between intellectuality and the greatest naturalness’, and that same equilibrium is evident in every phrase of the performances here.

The boldest, most thrusting orchestral effects arrive in the supernatural drama of Erlkönig. Far from being dwarfed, Goerne simply expands his voice to match the new surroundings, to thrilling effect...Schubert Revisited, so imaginative and refreshing, is the perfect new year delight.