Some may miss the high-adrenalin count and espressivo clout of, say, Herbert von Karajan’s early 1980s digital Berlin remake [of the Tchaikovsky], yet Hope is more successful at capturing the music’s Italianate sparkle and charm...Even more persuasive is a performance of Elgar’s Serenade that captures its quintessential Englishness, outdoor freshness and spontaneity with a captivating inner glow.

Hope is the ZKO’s fifth music director, taking over from Roger Norrington in 2016. His approach to Mozart – here the serenade Eine kleine Nachtmusik – isn’t as lean or vibratoless as Norrington but it is bright and bold, and cleanly played...But the main interest on this album is the wonderful reading of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade...This is ardent, passionate playing, completely persuasive.