A new recording of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez is always welcome. Unencumbered by profundity yet full of strong feeling, impeccably crafted yet eschewing innovation, it rightly remains one of the most popular concertos ever written. Likewise, any guitarist of talent has merely to ‘play the notes as written’ and Rodrigo will do the rest, such is the work’s irresistible beauty and simplicity. Nevertheless, players will often lean towards either neoclassical coolness or flamenco-inflected passion.

The brilliant young guitarist Junhong Kuang is somewhat in the former camp and brings the excellent Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice and conductor Darrell Ang along with him. This is an account of great clarity, precision and – perhaps unintended but enjoyable all the same – Stravinskian objectivity and irony. A contrasting view looms on the horizon, with Thibaut Garcia’s recording out soon. In the meantime, I probably won’t forsake my Pepe Romero just yet.

Couplings also separate a new recording of the Concierto de Aranjuez from its predecessors. In this case, we’re fortunate to have an extremely fine account – sunny, relaxed, exciting – of Ponce’s Concierto del sur, as well as the guitarist/composer Gerald Garcia’s China Sings!, which was dedicated to the then 12-year-old Junhong Kuang. Garcia’s ‘rhapsody’ uses two Chinese popular tunes – ‘Dark sky’ and ‘Silver clouds chasing the moon’ – as its primary material, while the guitar’s flowing tremolos recall the sound of the pipa. It’s a terrific work, to which soloist, orchestra and conductor do full justice. Indeed, excellent though Junhong Kuang’s Rodrigo is, China Sings! may be the reason you purchase this recording.