My favourite version of the Flute and Harp Concerto is certainly this latest one from Richard Hickox, which also has the advantage—at budget price—of being rather cheaper than the others, which are full price. The players are both young but are nevertheless highly skilled and mature musicians, and it is the best balanced recording, the harp having adequate presence. Nor is the Bohm version on DG one of the best notwithstanding the distinguished soloists. Apart from Bohm's tempos which tend to be on the leisurely side, so that the performances lack something of the sparkle they particularly need, the recording hasn't the brightness of later ones. The two works were originally issued on LP, differently coupled, in the mid-1970s.
The Clarinet Concerto is, no doubt, the greater work by a good deal. It benefits from smooth and most expressive playing and here I again prefer the Pickwick disc with David Campbell, who gives us those qualities in full measure while providing lively playing for the many high-spirited passages that call for it. I must add, however, that he does nothing to decorate those bars with pause marks in the solo part, where other players insert a tasteful note or two, which is obviously correct. Still, Campbell always plays those passages with great expression, as he does everything else.'