Similar lightness, transparency, and wit defines Carter's most recent work on this disc, the Dialogues for Piano and Chamber Orchestra, with Nicolas Hodges as assured and relaxed as can be at the keyboard. The Asko Concerto, written in January 2000, is a kind of concerto grosso where 16 players are divided into smaller units that play fleet, whimsical phrases framed by recurring ensemble ritornellos. Oliver Knussen leads a slightly quicker and more delicately textured interpretation than heard in the disc premiere under Peter Eötvös on ECM. Although I think Eötvös' broader pacing allows for more characterful, spotlit solo work (the clarinet and double bass duo, for instance), I prefer Knussen's more incisive chording in the loud tuttis. In other words, the performances complement each other.

Fred Sherry's almost offhanded mastery of the Cello Concerto's deceptively facile solo part conveys an idiomatic fluency, dance-like countenance, and conversational ease that I don't remember hearing from Yo-Yo Ma's world-premiere rendition. In fact, all four performances are put together with the utmost care, benefiting from glorious, realistic engineering. Carter fans cannot afford to miss this important release.