Karl von Ordonez (also known as Carlo d’Ordonez) may sound like an unlikely Viennese but he was in the thick of musical life in the Imperial capital during the 1760s, ’70s and ’80s, even though, as a minor member of the nobility, he was unable to pursue a career as a professional musician and had to make his living as a government official. Even writing in his spare time, however, he produced church music, dramatic works, string quartets and more than 70 symphonies.

It would be foolish to make great claims for these last. They are pleasant and competently written but remain essentially lightweight creations, missing the melodic distinction and enlivening rhythmic control of Haydn, the urbane chamber style of whose early symphonies they often echo. What they do offer of their own is a gentle grace and mellow composure, and, in minor-key music that might in other hands have taken a more stormy turn, a certain emotional vulnerability.

Kevin Mallon seems to value these particular characteristics, because in places where others might have adopted a more hard-driven style he and Toronto Camerata go for something rather more polite. Such an approach is not without its charms but it can come across as low in energy, sometimes even plain cautious; the outer movements of the ‘Gm8’ Symphony, for instance, would benefit from a touch more Sturm und Drang, while a lack of warmth in the slow movement (with its lovely parts for two solo violas) adds to the feeling that these performances are more dutiful than enthusiastic. An interesting curiosity for Classical symphony buffs maybe, but otherwise not a hugely compelling release.