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"... a delightful, wide-ranging sequence of English songs ... Connolly sings immaculately, with impeccably sensitive accompaniment from Malcolm Martineau, in sound both clear and perfectly balanced." - Gramophone "Four Stars ... Connolly and Martineau make an impressive double act ... her voice has such a pleasing texture ... it is womanly rather than girlish; velvet rather than satin ... her sense of drama is never overstated. She excels, therefore, in capturing the masculine and melancholy of Britten’s lullabies and Bennett’s brittle, unpredictable scenes from a long marriage. Martineau responds throughout with characteristically flawless, subtle and intuitive accompaniment." - Classic FM "An interesting programme ... thoughtfully chosen from both well-known and less familiar composers, in stunningly beautiful performances that go straight to the heart: this is a recording that you will want to return to again and again. Sarah Connolly’s voice has colour and richness to spare and she knows how to use it sparingly. She sings with expressive legato and perfect intonation and diction. Most important, she has a wonderful ability to find and communicate surprising depths of meaning and Malcolm Martineau matches her phrase for phrase." - American Record Guide Mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly is accompanied by pianist Malcolm Martineau on this diverse and highly acclaimed programme of English love songs, beginning with four works by Benjamin Britten. Next come 11 songs from the 1920s, considered the golden decade for English art songs. The most recent contribution to the album is the surreally retro short song cycle A History of the Thé Dansant by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, published in 1995.