Adding to the list of critically acclaimed collaborations with Metropolitan Opera soprano Danielle Talamantes, this world-premiere recording of Henry Dehlinger's art songs represents the culmination of a prolific period for the composer and the fruit of a close and rewarding friendship with the soprano and her bass-baritone husband, Kerry Wilkerson. The original works in this recital were composed especially for their voices.

“San Francisco-native Henry Dehlinger, a prodigiously talented pianist and singer, turned his hand to full-time composition in 2015,” says UK-based AVIE Records in its announcement. “The skill and splendour of his music belies the relatively brief number of years he has committed pen to paper to create a considerable oeuvre of orchestral, chamber and choral music.” 

The title track opens Henry’s 10-part song cycle set to texts by James Joyce. Inspiration for other songs comes from poetry by Dante, Edgar Allen Poe, Oscar Wilde, and the Biblical Song of Songs. Throughout, Henry’s modern yet tonal compositional voice shines through as he renders a diverse palette of musical styles to amplify the words he sets to music.