Except for Respighi's delicious confection, which is heard in Malcolm Sargent's concert suite, the works on this recording are rarely heard. Puccini's youthful Preludio shows...

Except for Respighi's delicious confection, which is heard in Malcolm Sargent's concert suite, the works on this recording are rarely heard. Puccini's youthful Preludio shows melodic invention and warmth anticipating his later operatic style. Rossini's little-known Bassoon Concerto is full of charm while Verdi's Capriccio fuses noble and carnivalesque qualities. Far more than a curio, Paganini's virtuosic Concertino for Horn, Bassoon and Orchestra offers an intriguing slant on the great violinist's work.