This disc won't be for every Schumann aficionado. Listeners looking for Schumann the passionate composer of piano music, the inspired composer of songs, or the robust composer of symphonies won't find anything like that in this collection of his Romances and Ballades for chorus. This is not to say these works aren't passionate, inspired, and robust, but they are short, small-scale choral works meant as much for the enjoyment of the performers as for the edification of the listeners, so their charms are not for everyone. Listeners who admire the smaller choral works of Mendelssohn and Brahms are likely to enjoy these pieces, particularly in the delightful performances by the SWR Vokalensemble of Stuttgart under the brilliant direction of
Rupert Huber. With a rich tone, warm blend, and agile ensemble, and with impeccable intonation and ideal diction, the German chorus delivers polished and enthusiastic performances. Recorded in vivid, well-balanced sound, this disc should appeal to fans of Romantic German choral music.