This week audiences will be about to hear rarely performed works and three famed song cycles in a production setting.

Ark Resounding

Navona Records releases the latest from The ARK Trio, formed by soprano Allison Charney, cellist Kajsa William-Olsson, and pianist Reiko Uchida. The pieces presented in the CD may be an eclectic mix of American history, Bachian and Schubertian influences, and timeless poetry.

Eine Winterreise

Naxos releases Schubert’s song cycles in a production by Christof Loy. Loy created a memorable evening of music theater in which Schubert’s tragically short life is depicted by and extended through his immortal music and songs from Winterreise, Die schöne Müllerin, and Schwanengesang. Mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter performs alongside pianist Kristian Bezuidenhout.

Befreit: A Soul Surrendered

Chandos Releases Mezzo-soprano Kitty Whately’s new album.

In a press release, Whatley noted, “It has been my great pleasure to record with Joseph once again. We have long shared a mutual passion for early twentieth-century romantic Lieder and talked of making a disc including songs by Mahler and Strauss. The opportunity to discover and research lesser-known composers from their era has been thrilling and fascinating.”

The album includes the music of Strauss and Mahler as well as two lesser-known composers Johanna Müller-Hermann and Margarete Schweikert.