Bridge's four-movement suite evokes not only contrasting ''sea-images'', as he himself described them, but also the atmosphere of pre-First World War England, where the old-world state would shortly be destroyed by conflict and social change. In later years, when his style had deepened and darkened, Bridge tended to disparage The Sea, but it's a beautifully written, inventive work, and makes a strong impression, especially in Vernon Handley's sympathetic performance, where the orchestral textures glow and sparkle. In Bax's brief prelude, skilfully orchestrated from the composer's short score by Graham Partlett, the mood is sombre and evocative: this is a most impressive and welcome addition to the list of Bax's orchestral works. Britten's orchestral excerpts from Peter Grimes have received several LP recordings, but in this extracted form they make their CD debut. Again, Handley brings out orchestral colour and detail very deftly, and his orchestra plays beautifully, but here I felt that the passion and drama which underlies the musical argument was a little lacking. In all three works the recording quality is of the high standard we have now come to expect from Chandos.'