Around 1820, a change was happening in western music. Restraint and formality were on their way out and expression and emotion were in, marking the change from the Classical period to the Romantic.

Schubert’s Eighth Symphony, which he started writing in 1822, is often called the first Romantic symphony. Mendelssohn’s Fourth Symphony, written a few years later, is 100% Romantic, and filled with Italian atmosphere that he soaked up during a trip across Europe.

Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s beloved husband, was born around the same time. Although he’s often praised as a champion of art and science and industry, his work as a composer is mostly overlooked. Which is a shame – this selection of songs shows all the hallmarks of a young man growing up alongside romanticism.