Recitals focusing on wanderers and wandering are hardly rarities, but British baritone James Newby’s debut album for BIS brings a welcome freshness to the idea, not least in its programming – a beautifully balanced mixture of Britten, Schubert, Beethoven and Mahler. And it starts most arrestingly, with an emotionally direct, open-hearted and affecting account of ‘I wonder as I wander’, the baritone’s voice exposed and honest against Joseph Middleton’s delicately etched piano interjections.

It’s a performance that sets the tone, announcing Newby as an impressive artist – he has plenty of major prizes to his credit, including the 2016 Kathleen Ferrier Award. And in the Schubert selection, he shows he’s able to create vividly dramatic worlds, too. The famous Wanderer of D489 veers between extremes, for example: internalised emotion occasionally bursting into frustration and tangible anguish, with the singer unafraid of unleashing almost operatic intensity.

The voice itself is a fine instrument, handsome and authoritative. At times there could be more tonal variety, and I occasionally miss a certain honey and lyrical sweetness at lower volumes. Nor does the artlessness I feel is needed for ‘Im Freien’ come as naturally to Newby yet as it does to some. But those are minor quibbles: this is rewarding, vivid Schubert, from an artist whose natural communicative gift shines through in every note.

The Beethoven makes even more of a statement. Here ‘Adelaide’ concentrates on drama instead of mere prettiness, while An die ferne Geliebte starts to resemble a monodrama in its concentration and narrative impetus, where emotion and frustration are allowed to show alongside the moments of dewy Innigkeit. It’s an unusually gripping performance of this beautiful cycle.

Newby’s approach is unsurprisingly effective in a trio of Mahler songs, as well: ‘Zu Strassburg auf der Schanz’’ – too rarely heard – is beautifully done; ‘Urlicht’ comes across as especially affecting in contrast to a powerful ‘Revelge’ in which Middleton, occasionally a little reticent elsewhere on the album, is superb.

Throw in three more Britten folk songs, sung with natural eloquence, plus exemplary engineering from BIS, and this adds up to an impressive debut from a young singer to watch.