Gounod's symphonies aren't brow- furrowing and don't represent any advance in symphonic thought beyond Schumann and Mendelssohn, but they reveal Gounod in the Gallic tradition of elegantly crafted works with a light touch. The melodious, classically built and witty First Symphony, with its delicate second-movement fugue and vivacious finale, isn't to be peremptorily brushed aside. The longer Second Symphony makes an attempt to sound more serious, especially in the first movement and the dramatic Scherzo – the cantilena of the Larghetto is beautifully shaped here – but high spirits return in the finale. John Lubbock and his St John's orchestra are adept at the crisply neat treatment that this music demands. His wind section is outstanding, but in the finale of No 1 the violins too show real virtuosity. A warm but clean recorded sound adds to our pleasure.

The playing and recording are both fresh and engaging...this account by John Lubbock earns a clear recommendation.