This is a particularly fine collection of song-cycles, very beautifully sung by Martina Janková, who has a wonderfully free, sweet upper range (she reaches up for high notes exquisitely, without a hint of strain or wobble). Her phrasing too is magically, richly flexible. In short, her vocal colouring is incredibly fresh and young-sounding, yet she has been a member of the Zurich Opera House ensemble since 1998! She is admirably accompanied by Gérard Wyss and has chosen the programme herself, telling us in the accompanying note that “these songs accompany through my life like good friends”.

Her “voyage” begins with Mussorgsky’s witty paradise of childhood (each song delightfully full of individuality), continues with Dvorák’s glorious cycle of Love Songs, sung in her own language, then includes four richly romantic Lieder of Strauss, and ends with Dvorák’s lovely Biblical Songs – “Oh, my shepherd in the Lord”, “Songs of gladness will I sing thee” and the touching “Hear oh Lord my bitter cry” are unforgettable. Those top notes are really something never to forget. A disc to treasure.