This is claimed to be a recording of the ‘complete’ recorder concertos of Vivaldi (RV441-5) and as there is no other listed version of RV441 it has that field to itself. Such archival primacy would be of little significance if the performances were sub-standard – but here they are high quality on all counts.Kecskeméti bears the bulk of the soloist’s burden while Czidra appears only in RV442 (for treble recorder).

Kecskeméti acquits himself on the same instrument with no less distinction in RV441 and, with no reflection on Czidra’s manifest abilities, he could surely have made a clean sweep. It is Kecskeméti who has the greatest ‘showcase’ opportunities and he makes the most of them. His speed and clarity of articulation (as clean as a whistle, as it were) in the flanking movements are breathtaking and in some scale passages his sure-tongued choice of separate articulation gives life and variety – listen to the Allegro molto of RV443 and marvel! He adds embellishment where appropriate and in good taste.

The basic five concertos alone would leave a disc somewhat under-filled and the choice of RV95, in which the recorder is featured, as a filler is a happy one. The Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia’s contributions are happily light-footed. Excellent recording quality and bargain price are just extra reasons why this disc is a must-buy.