01. Dear Theo No. 1, The Red Vineyard
02. Dear Theo No. 2, I Found a Woman
03. Dear Theo No. 3, Little One
04. Dear Theo No. 4, The Man I Have to Paint
05. Dear Theo No. 5, When I’m at Work
06. Dear Theo No. 6, Already Broken
07. Dear Theo No. 7, Souvenir
08. So Free Am I No. 1, Mutta
09. So Free Am I No. 2, Interlude
10. So Free Am I No. 3, Orinda Upon Little Hector Philips
11. So Free Am I No. 4, Nervous Prostration
12. So Free Am I No. 5, The Poem as Mask – Orpheus
13. So Free Am I No. 6, Mettika
14. Ode to a Nightingale No. 1, My heart aches
15. Ode to a Nightingale No. 2, O, for a draught
16. Ode to a Nightingale No. 3, Fade far away
17. Ode to a Nightingale No. 4, Away! Away!
18. Ode to a Nightingale No. 5, I cannot see what flowers
19. Ode to a Nightingale No. 6, Darkling I listen
20. Ode to a Nightingale No. 7, Thou wast not born for death
21. Ode to a Nightingale No. 8, Adieu!
22. The Lake Isle of Innisfree

Ben Moore is a particularly eloquent exponent of the art song, noted for the broad and eclectic variety of his thematic applications and poetic sources. Here, in his first album for Delos, he offers three diverse and richly expressive song cycles – hitherto unrecorded – that explore the theme of longing for freedom in diverse ways. Tenor Paul Appleby, soprano Susanna Phillips and baritone Brett Polegato deliver lovely singing and sensitive interpretations, supported to perfection by pianist Brian Zeger.

Dear Theo, the title set, is based upon the letters of legendary artist Vincent van Gogh to his brother Theo. So Free am I sets poetry by women from across millennia, expressing their longing to be free of the ages-old societal discrimination they have suffered. Ode to a Nightingale sets John Keats’ famous poem, with a separate song devoted to each stanza.