Brahms: Alto Rhapsody, Gesang der Parzen, Nanie, Schicksalslied
Brahms's shorter choral music with orchestra remains more or less on the periphery of the basic repertoire for a few reasons. The music is difficult to program in isolation, and it's also a lot of work for relatively small return. Not that it's bad or dull--most of it is lovely, but never quite offers enough bang for your buck. This collection logically and satisfyingly offers first-rate performances of all of these warmly Romantic pieces, with Marilyn Horne, an especially distinctive soloist, in theAlto Rhapsody. A lovely disc, then, to explore at leisure.--David Hurwitz