I have recently updated all my Mahler symphonies on CD, but I realised that the box set I aquired did not contain either Das Leid von der erde or the song cycles. When I purchased this title I did not expect to be so moved by the singing of Dame Janet Baker whose emotional rendition is outstanding. The orchestrations by Mahler, and the interpretation of Barbirolli are exquisite, but Dame Janet is the star on this CD, her voice is so perfect, I would imagine that this is what angels sound like. This is one of the finest CDs I have ever bought and five stars does not do it justce.