MAX REGER (1873-1916): 5 Gesänge, Op. 98, 5 neue Kinderlieder, Op. 142, from 16 Gesänge, Op. 63: Nos. 1-6, from 18 Gesänge, Op. 75: Nos. 1-8, from 15 Lieder, Op. 55: Nos. 1-6.

Description: Still the least-known part of his œuvre, Reger's lieder get only their third disc completely devoted to the genre here. Unlike some collections, this one either deals in complete opus numbers or consecutive chunks of opus numbers too large (Reger thought nothing of having more than 50 songs in his op. 76) to record completely. Since Reger ranged widely in his choice of texts and subjects, you often only know it's him by his characteristic employment of late Romantic harmony; there is nothing one could call, stylistically, "the Reger Lied". Detailed excellent notes make up for the lack of English translations making this the best-produced Reger lieder release yet. German texts. Markus Schäfer (tenor), Ernst Breidenbach (piano).