Rheinberger, Josef Gabriel’s works for men’s choir are among the best of this genre in the second half of the 19th century. The soloistic performance practiced by the Singphoniker creates an immediacy and purity of sound which renders not only the beauty of Rheinberger’s songs but also makes the well-crafted detail of their musical setting clearly audible – a performance practice which might well have pleased the composer and is suited to presenting these works in their best light.