It is a gripping journey of discovery: Songs of Fate, the latest album by Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer, which he recorded together with the chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica, soprano Vida Miknevičiūtė, Magdalena Ceple on cello and vibraphonist Andrei Pushkarev.

Andrei Pushkarev has recorded. And with pieces by composers who are probably less well known.

Kremer has selected scores by the Baltic composers Raminta Šerkšnytė, Giedrius Kuprevičius, Jēkabs Jančevskis and the Polish-Jewish composer Mieczysław Weinberg for the approximately one hour of intimate atmosphere.

The booklet lists exactly twelve tracks, united by a calm, at times almost poetic character. The musicians approach the works with great sensitivity. The music caresses and captivates, not least because it is performed with first-class playing and recording quality.

Full-bodied instruments on a compact stage carry their sound authentically and almost tangibly into the listening room. And, a pleasant surprise, even in the emphatic treble it is not shrill for a second.

In a note on the album, Kremer states how, when reflecting on the various threads that make up this programme, he "realised to my own surprise that this project revolves in many ways around the concept of 'Jewishness'." This is certainly the case when you look at the composers.

The ear to the music, however, registers high-calibre melodiousness, both compositionally and instrumentally. It hears what music should be: great. (Thomas Semmler, HighResMac)

Vida Miknevičiūtė, soprano
Gidon Kremer, violin
Magdalena Ceple, violoncello
Andrei Pushkarev, vibraphone
Kremerata Baltica