As can be seen above, Dvorak's Serenade and Krommer's E flat Octet-Partita have appeared before on CD: room has now been found for another Octet-Partita, in B flat, nearly 18 more minutes of music to make a generously filled record. The performances, too, are generous, in that they are lively, warm, friendly, amused and relaxed. They are led by the oboe, and Gareth Hulse has just the manner for music that needs plenty of style and wit but not too much serious-mindedness; there is also some delightful clarinet playing from Antony Pay.
Dvorak's Serenade is by some way the finest work on the record, an enchanting piece in his most relaxed and charming vein, and it is very attractively played here. The Supraphon LP version by the Czech Wind Ensemble has now vanished from the catalogue, and it had a cheerful insouciance that is the fruit of the players having the music naturally in their blood: the Nash come at it rather more from outside, as is only to be expected, but this does enable them to make some sharper points. But the real point is that, even if Krommer cannot match Dvorak in invention, the record is a most agreeable piece of serenading that makes delightful listening, or half-listening. The recordings are suitably clear and bright, and use a sterophonic disposition that does well by the swift and cheerful instrumental exchanges.'