With a compositional repertoire including chamber operas, musicals, film scores, art songs, and cabaret, composer Mira J. Spektor has written English, French, and German songs and performed and recorded in the United States, Europe, and Israel. She is also a published poet and brings her wealth of knowledge, experience, and musical passion to her Navona Records debut Summer & Winter Songs...

Performed by soprano Maeve Höglund and accompanied by pianist and tenor Jean-Paul Björlin, Summer & Winter Songs is a diverse and intimate album that charms the listener with stories of love and loss. With songs set to texts by herself, notable poets from Goethe to Byron, and a selection of poetry by her granddaughter Lily Nussbaum, Spektor’s songs are as lyrical as they are profound.

While the songs themselves are engaging and beautifully constructed, Maeve Höglund's vocals add a whole other level to the proceedings. From love songs to melancholic offerings, Höglund delivers a raw passion that is hard not to fall in love with.

'Sunday Psalm' which is based on Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made", is one of the highlights of this release, as is the haunting 'Turn Around'. But I'd have to single out 'You Were There' as this album's standout track.

From the brightest summer days, to the darkest winter nights, there's plenty here to warm your heart all year round.

9

Darren Rea