Richard Tauber was not only one of the greatest singers of the 20th century, he also did much to break down the barriers between light music and classical opera by appearing in a series of popular films. His suave, gentlemanly look and trademark monocle went with an equally recognisable voice of great beauty.

Composers like Franz Lehár knew that Tauber could make a show, and that the audience would expect to hear the “Tauber song”, and so a string of hits were written specifically with his unique voice in mind. Girls were made to love and kiss, I kiss your hand Madame and, of course, You are my heart’s delight are amongst the finest operetta songs ever written.

Piotr Beczała is as near perfect a guide in this repertoire as you could hope for. His warm tenor has just the right quality – warm, slightly baritonal in the lower registers, thrilling and bright at the top with no hint of strain. Best of all, where some singers have a telltale hint of self- consciousness singing this old-fashioned repertoire (I’m thinking of Joseph Calleja on his recent Mario Lanza tribute), Beczała is stylistically spot-on.

He manages the slight sob in the throat, the hint...