Another wonderful compilation of highlights from many of Baker's best recordings. Highly recommended.

A later recording of the Kindertotenlieder, this time with Leonard Bernstein conducting the Israel Philharmonic. Like the Barbirolli performance above, a classic.

For me the great highlight of this set is the inclusion of a formerly out of print recording of French chamber music songs by Ravel, Chausson, and Delage, with the excellent Melos Ensemble of London (not to be confused with the Melos Stuggart Quartet).

There is some very beautiful Schubert singing here, especially on the recordings with Gerald Moore at the piano.

Another great Baker recording of "Les nuits d'ete"--a song cycle by Hector Berlioz. With Barbirolli conducting. There is also a more recent EMI release of this same issue.

My favorite Auger recital, with Irwin Gage accompanying her on piano. The highlight is Auger's astonishingly beautiful performance of Strauss's song "Morgen", which is the finest rendition of this song that I have ever heard. Very highly recommended.

More wonderful recordings from Auger.

Rare analogue recordings from Auger in her early prime of Schubert lieder.

Rare analogue recital from Auger of Haydn lieder.

My all-time favorite Schubert lieder recital. If I could only take one CD of Schubert Lieder to my desert island, this would be it--no hesitation. I have never heard anyone sing Schubert's sublime Ave Maria more beautifully than Ameling. Highly recommended.

This EMI import issue is a great set of Faure songs, with tenor Gerard Souzay and Dalton Baldwin on piano. The same set has also been released on the discount label Brilliant Classics, but if you can afford it, I would recommend the import version, as the sound and pressings are probably a little better.

More Schubert gems from Ameling and Dalton Baldwin, and in even better sound--the hybrid SACD format makes Ameling's beautiful voice sound even more life-like. Another treasure.

Ameling exceled in French Songs, and this set includes some of her most beautiful recordings in the repertoire, accompanied by Dalton Baldwin.

Duparc wrote some very beautiful lieder, but my primary reason for including this disc is mezzo-soprano Sarah Walker's performance of the song "Extase," which definitely goes with me to my desert island. It is one of my all-time favorite lieder songs, and Walker's performance is hauntingly beautiful.

The set includes De Los Angeles's classic performance of Chausson's beautiful orchestral song cycle--"Poeme de l'Amour et de la Mer," as well as many other wonderful performances in the French repertoire.

Unfortunately, this boxed set of Faure's chamber music is the only way to now acquire Sarah Walker's beautiful recording of Faure's magical song cycle "La Bonne Chanson," performed here in its chamber version with the excellent Nash Ensemble. (The alternative to this performance is the von Otter recording listed below.)

Anne Sofie von Otter performs the same repertoire of French chamber music songs that is on the Baker and Walker recordings above, and this is one of the finest recordings that von Otter has ever done. Highly recommended.

Here is a set of the complete songs by Chausson, an exceptionally gifted French composer who died far too young in a bicycle accident. It is hard to find great performances of his songs--there is a fine CD by Bernarda Fink on the Accord label, but I could not find it here. Christine Schaefer also recorded some of his songs for DG. (I have not heard the new Sandrine Piau recording "Evocation.")

As you have no doubt guessed by now, I am a lover of French songs, and here is a great rarity--melodies by Eric Satie. Unfortunately, you will have to buy the whole set to get them, but if you are a Satie admirer, as I am, it is well worth it.

EDIT: I have now heard Sandrine Piau's new CD entitled "Evocation." Included are songs by Chausson, Strauss, Debussy, Zemlinsky, Koechlin, and Schoenberg, and they are given the most magical performances. (Unfortunately, I have had to bump Cheryl Studer's Wesendonck recording off my list in order to make room for Piau, but Janet Baker's version is preferable now that it's back in print.)