Gerald Finzi wrote his Violin Concerto in the mid-1920s for Sybil Eaton (a gifted young artist with whom he had become infatuated). In May 1927, Eaton played the second and third movements under Malcolm Sargent (Finzi having already rejected the opening movement), and when Vaughan Williams arranged another performance the following year, Finzi decided to have another stab at that problematic first movement. Still he was dissatisfied, and subsequently published the slow movement separately as his Op.6 Introit. It's a hugely enjoyable creation, the bracingly, back-to-Bach vigour of its outer movements framing a central Molto sereno of limpid beauty. A lovely first recording, too, with Tasmin Little at her rapt best. The concerto is preceded by sensitively shaded readings of the wonderfully touching Romance and Prelude, and there's another debut on disc in the shape of In Years Defaced. Of the six songs that comprise the latter, only one ("When I Set Out for Lyonnesse") was actually orchestrated by Finzi, the remainder having been clothed in the most subtle garb by five contemporary composers including such luminaries as Colin Matthews, Judith Weir and Anthony Payne (of Elgar Three fame). Tenor John Mark Ainsley is as eloquent as one could wish, and the sound is excellent. --Andrew Achenbach