Slovenia is hemmed in by Austria, Croatia and Italy. The inherited musical tradition, clearly influenced by the geographical surroundings, appears to be primarily vocal and Harmonia Mundi offers here a collection of 32 19th- and 20th‑century Slovenian solos and duets sung by brother and sister Marcos and Bernarda Fink, born in Argentina into a Slovenian family. Bernarda Fink has a ravishing upper range and Marcos is a warmly attractive baritone partner while pianist Anthony Spiri seems to take naturally to the repertoire.

Each composer has contributed strikingly to this most important musical genre in their heritage. The romantic style of the music is communicative, and, with no strong individual composing personality emerging, each of the settings is memorable in its own way. The two opening soprano songs by Anton Lajovic immediately catch the ear: the first beguilingly evokes moonbeams; the second, “Jamie, come try me”, is a winsome invitation from a maiden enticing her lover to respond to her passionate eagerness. Both beautifully sung, they are followed by the baritone’s warm “Serenade”. A lighter touch emerges in Josip Pavcic’s “Grandpa Single-Leg” and the catchy “Ciciban” (“little bird”), while Emil Adamic’s charming “Primroses” – “trumpeting loudly, telling their fellows that spring has come” – is infectious.

Most of the songs are nostalgic, like the closing setting of Davorin Jenko, “Abroad”, whose author affectionately remembers his hometown’s meadows and woodland. Throughout, the singing of both artists is wonderfully sensitive and persuasively understanding on a disc that will give continuing pleasure, vividly recorded and admirably documented.