This Blu-ray disc is experimental, made with at least half an eye on techniques of recording. Living literally up to their name, the Trondheim Soloists – apparently inspired by producer Morten Lindberg’s work with choral music – recorded the Tchaikovsky Serenade ‘in mixed voices’, ie with no one sitting beside anyone playing the same part, a kind of super-Stokowski effect. Further comments on this aspect of the disc will be covered by audio editor Andrew Everard in the February issue; meanwhile, this one pair of non-technical ears, and his one pair (only) of speakers, have certainly enjoyed being right among the string desks.

The repertoire on the disc combines the ensemble’s own choice of what they champion as ‘the most beautiful music ever composed for the string orchestra’ (Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence and his Serenade for strings) with a Facebook-sourced listeners’ choice (Nielsen’s Suite, Op 1) and an apt little Nielsen filler. Nordic performances of Tchaikovsky (especially string music) can be as distinctive as those of Jussi Björling singing Puccini or Verdi. The very slight chill on (or freezing of) the warm Romantic sound you’re expecting to hear brings a degree of objectivity, or extra focus, to the performance. Additionally, the Trondheimers are as precise narrators of musical argument as any string quartet or conductor-led ensemble. Even the famous old Borodin Quartet version of Souvenir de Florence sounds in places almost mushily balanced in comparison. Similarly, the Trondheim Serenade, while not lacking emotion, puts aside pictorial images still reliant on Balanchine’s choreography or Kathryn Grayson in Anchors Aweigh. The Nielsen items are (I want to add ‘of course’) triumphs, the Op 1 put over with a Britten-like wit.