…such is the class of the BBC Philharmonics playing for their principal guest conductor that by the end of the disc I felt that I had at least been shown facets of his [Kabalevskys] art that I had never before appreciated.

'Stott plays both concertos with aplomb but also with an understandable wariness of their superficiality, coaxing out their lyricism but playing down their brilliance' She's got a sympathetic collaborator in Sinaisky''

Take something wonderful … and make it even better! That's what Chandos has done by releasing CHAN 10052 in Studio Master format. The original CD, now ten years old, remains the best-sounding disc in my collection, but the new 96 kHz/24-bit download demonstrates the unquestionable superiority of the newer playback technology. High-resolution audio showcases the color and excitement of Kabalevsky's most popular works, which receive a thoroughly Russian reading by the BBC Philharmonic under Vassily Sinaisky. The Studio Master reveals every detail of the composer's brilliant orchestrations, presenting his highly accessible music in exciting performances with stunning dynamic range. The 'socialist realism' embodied in Kabalevsky's music is matched by the musical realism of Chandos's superb recording. Just as the composer's artistic philosophy pleased the Soviet regime, Chandos's Studio Master will please audiophiles who appreciate tuneful, optimistic music. If you want to enjoy an hour (61:45) of delightful entertainment, presented in state-of-the-art sound, this download is highly recommended. My only criticism of the album is its cover, designed around a stock photograph of dark, brooding ruins of a castle. Its mood hardly matches that of the music. But never mind; one advantage of computer audio is that you don't have to look at album art unless you want to!