Peteris Vasks (b1946) came to international prominence with his deeply impressive and atmospheric First Symphony, Voices for string orchestra, in 1991. His Second appeared in 1999 and has garnered considerable acclaim, not least the Latvia Music Prize in 2000 and the Cannes Classical Disc of the Year in 2004. Much might then be expected of his Third.

It was commissioned by the Tampere Philharmonic and completed in 2005. They wanted a work lasting 15 to 20 minutes; they received one exceeding 40! I wish I could be more enthusiastic about it. Cast in a single movement, it divides into either three or four main sections depending on whether you believe the booklet or the track-listing (it can be argued both ways). Although strong on portentous atmosphere, it is a little light on material, at least material that might sustain so large an edifice. In addition, the symphony does not possess the harmonic movement essential to tonal symphonism and gets bogged down more than once. As a result, despite many fine passages, it is only intermittently convincing as a symphony.

The Cello Concerto (1993-94), by contrast, is a much more consistently achieved work (and only 10 minutes shorter in this performance). One of Vasks’s finest orchestral compositions, it was written for David Geringas, who recorded a splendid premiere account, coupled with Voices (Conifer , 12/96 – nla). Ylönen proves an excellent substitute, having the measure of the work, a touch slower overall, and the better recording.