The opening moments of this disc leave no doubt that it’s going to be enormous fun, and from a virtuoso orchestra with a superb conductor. Surely the opening flourish of the Overture to The Silken Ladder has never been delivered with such precision and panache. Can Rossini have imagined any of this music would receive such impeccable performances?

Performances throughout brim over with quicksilver wit and silky panache, the featured Budapest soloists eloquently illustrating the strength in depth of this fine orchestra in its third decade. On the whole, Fischer's tempi are winningly fleet and vivacious, and always vividly recorded.

The highlights of this collection are the Budapest players' vividly released accounts of the rarely recorded wind and string Serenata and the two youthful sets of variations for assorted soloists and small orchestra. …engaging and stylish performances...