Joyce DiDonato’s performance of ‘Schmerzen’ from the Wesendonck Lieder formed part of her ‘Eden’ album (3/22), a mixed programme crossing the centuries in which she was accompanied by Il Pomo d’Oro and Maxim Emelyanychev. But that was clearly not the only song from the set recorded at the time, and now Warner has released all five songs – initially as an exclusive EP on Apple Classical but now also generally available.

It is, as far as I’m aware, the first recording of the songs to feature period instruments, and the sound of the orchestra is immediately striking: softer and more transparent than we’re used to, with a complement of strings that often sounds smaller than the 8.8.5.5.3 listed in the booklet. The interpretation, too, seems to revel in intimacy. ‘Der Engel’, in particular, feels like a chamber work, while the fortissimos marked in ‘Schmerzen’ feel more like fortes, in the orchestra at least.

It all tapers beautifully into DiDonato’s approach, which is refreshingly unfussy and instinctive. She gets to the heart of Wagner’s music on her own terms, singing the songs ravishingly but unaffectedly, without a hint of indulgence. As a result, the moments of intense beauty – listen to the mood shift at ‘Wenn Aug’ in Auge wonnig trinken’ in ‘Stehe still!’, for example (at 1'11") – are all the more strikingly moving.

The line is always intelligently shaped and inflected, and naturally conveyed. The voice itself is in wonderful condition: beautifully polished across the dynamic range – there’s plenty of volume at the start of ‘Schmerzen’ – the characteristic fast vibrato adding an extra emotional urgency (in ‘Träume’ especially). Some will no doubt miss the grandeur and orchestral heft of more traditional accounts, but for me this adds up to a recording of these songs of rare intimacy, honesty and beauty, and an important addition to this superb singer’s discography. Highly recommended.