Yan Pascal Tortelier begins with a glittering, atmospheric, and finely detailed Rapsodie espagnole, but not everything in this recital achieves similar distinction. Alborada del gracioso goes well until the very end, where the conductor rushes the final pages to the point where articulation becomes a blur. Boléro suffers from a trombone that almost loses it toward the end of its solo (a common failing), and Tortelier’s own violin playing in Tzigane offers nothing especially characterful. The other items, though, are more successful: Stephen Roberts sings the Don Quichotte songs with virility and the right amount of swagger, while the ubiquitous Pavane flows nicely, with chaste purity. Vivid sound rounds out a disc that, while not outstanding in a very crowded field, remains recommendable if this particular compilation appeals to you.
