There is no shortage of good versions of the Sinfonia Concertante with violin and viola soloists, but there is still room for one more when it is as fluent and buoyant as this. The London Chamber Orchestra play with skill, feeling and insight, and with rich yet detailed sound this performance is very attractive. I do feel that the initial Allegro maestoso is on the brisk side at 11'56'' (against 13'28'' from Perlman and Zukerman with Mehta on DG and 13'44'' from Dumay, Causse and Krivine on EMI) but the C minor Andante that follows is meltingly eloquent and the finale sparkles, while Warren-Green and Roger Chase are well matched tonally and interpretatively. I think this better than the robust performance on the EMI issue and though Perlman and Zukerman's live Tel Aviv account has a special charm this Virgin one may be placed alongside it, and the coupling may determine your choice.

Here the Sinfonia Concertante with four wind soloists is convincingly done, with once again vivid outer movements balanced by a thoughtful central one, though the oboist (who is excellent elsewhere) wobbles on a top C at 2'19'' in the finale. That passage could have been done again. The competition in this work is good: the ECO/Tuckwell account on Decca is most attractive and on ASV the Chamber Orchestra of Europe's live recording is stylish, too, if inevitably less polished and with some audience sounds. But this Virgin coupling is eminently sensible and recommendable.

-- Christopher Headington, Gramophone [9/1989]