Hardly a prophet without honour in his own country, Pancho Vladigerov (1899-1979) remains little heard outside Bulgaria, despite building a reputation in Berlin and Vienna between the wars. All credit, then, to Capriccio for releasing these keynote recordings as part of an edition (the five piano concertos were issued in September) which will eventually amount to 18 CDs.

Written at the time Bulgaria was coerced into siding with the Axis powers, Vladigerov’s First Symphony (1940) recalls Soviet works from this era. Outer movements feature introductions that are not a little portentous, then sonata designs that juxtapose rather than integrate contrasting themes – on the way, in the finale, to a triumphal if overbearing apotheosis. The Scherzo has energy and charm that recalls the composer’s folk-inflected dances, but the Adagio proves the highlight in its eloquent languor. Finer is the Second Symphony (1948), its subtitle referring to the Day of Youth marked in communist nations but otherwise free of polemic; the scoring for strings imparts a lustre but also astringency to music whose affirmation is never contrived. A winsomely elegant slow movement and the suave waltz that follows are the highlights.

Akin to tone poems in their discursive progress, the Concert Overture (1933) is a declaration of intent on Vladigerov’s homecoming that explains its Earth subtitle, while the Heroic Overture (1949) bears the inscription ‘9th September’ to mark the Soviet ‘liberation’ in vivid while not unduly hubristic terms. Autumn Elegy (1922/37) confirms his poetic and ruminative side as also his most personal. Directed by the composer’s son Alexander, the playing of the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony has unfailing energy and flair, with the cinematic scope and immediacy of these 1970s recordings conveyed in full measure by the remastering. Those who are partial to Glière and Khachaturian will enjoy Vladigerov’s engagingly OTT music.