Music and performance transport us into Rilke’s world and involve us in his musings; that the vocal line is lyrical and the voice beautiful is almost incidental.
"[4] Robert Carl, in the same issue, stated "Composer Lieberson seizes the musical language of the period in which Rilke’s Sonnets were written, and makes his own version of Mahler, Strauss, Wolf, and Berg.
At their best, these songs project an open, naturally breathing harmonic sense that seems rooted in traditional tonality, yet is not readily identifiable as that of any specific precedent.
Vivien Schweitzer reviewed this performance for The New York Times writing, "[Lieberson's] Rilke Songs, written for his wife, are intensely communicative works, combining atonality and tonality in the vivid piano part."
Ms. Hunt Lieberson's radiant voice is expressive throughout her range, with its bright top notes, smoky lower register and elegant vibrato.