‘The Serenade in G is a welcome addition to the catalogue, a work which has a good deal in common with Warlock’s Capriol Suite in its orchestral dress. Both use dance forms from a previous age and transform them with new colours and harmonic touches. Handley and the Ulster Orchestra present it with striking freshness and warmth in its original version. Handley also offers the lovely Nocturne, a setting of a poem by Robert Nichols for baritone solo and eight-part chorus, which was much admired by Britten. It is given a wholly sympathetic performance and recording here, and the resonant acoustic of the Ulster Hall, Belfast provides a warmly atmospheric ambient glow.

‘The Capriol Suite exists in a piano-duet form, a very familiar version for strings (both from 1926), and the present full orchestral score, which followed in 1928. The effect is to rob the music of some of its astringency. A dryish wine is replaced with one of the fullest bouquet, for the wind instruments make the textures more rococo in feeling as well as increasing the colour. There are losses as well as gains, but it is good to have Handley’s fine performance, made to sound opulent by the acoustics of Ulster Hall, Belfast. The lovely Serenade, for strings alone, is also played and recorded very beautifully.’

Penguin Guide to Compact Discs