I found myself carried away by this unfamiliar work; here are melodies galore, sometime reminders of other works by other pens, all brought out in rapid succession and yet somehow strangely cohesive in thought, theme and atmosphere. The recording in Philadelphia's Fairmont Memorial Hall is well matched to Muti's handling of the music, revealing in orchestral texture, nicely spaced out and only rarely exhibiting the unpleasant bite on the string tone we sometimes hear from this source. Much of this score is lightweight and presents very easy listening. Although there are some interesting uses of contrasting dynamics, the only real power occurs in the choral finale which ends most impressively.'