The Guitar Concerto (2010) was written for Craig Ogden and predictably brings echoes of Spanish music, indicated in the subtitle, Requerdos do Mallorca. In creating an evocative atmosphere, Gunning uses the orchestra with the lightest of touches so that the guitar is never obscured. The first movement brings a sequence of attractive ideas, leading into a melancholy slow movement in the form of an aria, with the Spanish flavour nicely touched in. The lively finale is the most Spanish-sounding of all with its dancing syncopations and rapid repeated notes for the soloist.

The Clarinet Concerto is on just as impressive a scale and is brilliantly played here by RPO principal Michael Whight. The tone is rather more serious in the warm lyricism of the first movement, which culminates in an accompanied cadenza, bringing out the instrument’s special qualities. The elegiac slow movement brings a haunting melody over pivoting chords, leading up to a vigorous middle section involving arpeggio figures. The finale is jaunty and jazzy in a neo-classical manner that rather recalls the comparable concertos of Malcolm Arnold.

The last of the three works on the disc is lighter in manner, a Concertino for flute and small orchestra in three brief but striking movements, here played brilliantly by Catherine Handley. After a brightly neo-classical first movement, the central movement is slow and thoughtful with the flute entering after a substantial introduction, attractively interweaving with the other solo instruments. The finale opens with a characteristically jaunty theme which leads on to a more lyrical central section. With the composer an ardent conductor inspiring compelling performances of all three works, it is an admirable disc to show off Christopher Gunning’s still under-appreciated gifts.