Peter Cornelius (1824-1874) is known to many listeners as the composer of the comic opera The Barber of Baghdad, but this disc (numbered Vol. 3...

Peter Cornelius (1824-1874) is known to many listeners as the composer of the comic opera The Barber of Baghdad, but this disc (numbered Vol. 3 of his Complete Lieder) shows that he could also write utterly charming, light songs as well. Being music that abuts German pop music and operetta, it will certainly not provide you with a musical main course, but it is just chock full of frothy dessert treats. Song after song after song is tuneful, pretty but well written, catching an upbeat mood and sustaining it, and happily we have a quartet of singers and pianist who fully understand the idiom. In fact, kudos to pianist Veit for being the driving force of this disc. His playing is what continually catches the ear with it's verve, humor, and perfect touch. I was somewhat surprised, in reading his bio in the booklet, to discover that this pianist has also studied voice and attended master classes by famous singers as well as by famous pianists, but perhaps I shouldn't be. He certainly makes the piano lines sing.