,Fischer-Dieskau'2003 album, and these performances alone make this CD treasurable. The singing is fresh and involving, but the orchestral work really stands out just perfect, and this from a conductor who allegedly didn't think too much of Mahler! The sound in both these vintage sessions (1953 & 1955) is simply phenomenal,the mellifluous tone and lack of digital harshness put no barriers between the listener and the performers. In fact, the later (1980) selections, where Fischer-Dieskau is accompanied by Barenboim on piano, are less pleasant in this respect as well as being, for mine, less memorable generally. Nevertheless for over forty minutes of sheer musical wonder this disc deserves its place in EMI's self-declared pantheon of great recordings.