GRAMOPHONE EDITOR’s CHOICE: ‘REBECCA CLARKE–THE COMPLETE SONGS’

GRAMOPHONE

***EDITOR’S CHOICE*** January 2026

“The entire song output of Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) receives luxury treatment from a classy line-up on this engrossing release. Its contents clock in at just over two and a half hours and span seven decades…So many treasures vie for attention…

Inquisitive collectors can rest assured that the music-making throughout displays riveting eloquence and burning conviction, with Kitty Whately and Nicholas Phan in particular operating at the very top of their game. Really excellent production values, too, from Simon Kiln (working at Potton Hall in Suffolk), and a most helpful annotation courtesy of Christopher Johnson (the composer’s official cataloguer, estate manager and great-nephew by marriage). Phan pens a personable introduction to the whole project, and complete texts are included. One of the year’s best, without a shadow of a doubt; I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see it feature in the 2026 Awards.”