The Limelight Recording of the Month for December is not just a celebration of a 19th-century legend, it’s a cannily programmed debut recital from a marvellous singer in collaboration with a great conductor and his magnificent period instrument orchestra. A Tribute to Pauline Viardot is the brainchild of Swiss mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti and French, early-music wizard Christophe Rousset. Viardot knew everyone from Clara Schumann to Charles Dickens and sang for Wagner in the first run-through of Tristan und Isolde. By all accounts, she had a beautiful voice coupled with a fiery stage presence. “One of the greatest artists who comes to mind in the past and present history of music,” declared Berlioz. Clive Paget spoke with both Viotti and Rousset to find out more about this fascinating singer.

Christophe, what do you think makes Pauline Viardot such an important figure in the history of 19th century music?

Christophe Rousset: First of all, she was the sister of [Maria] Malibran and the daughter of Manuel García, who created the role of the barbiere in Rossini’s opera at La Scala. She was taught as a pianist – she was a pupil of Franz Liszt himself – and she was very promising. When...