Album: Stravinsky, Apollon Musagète/ Pulcinella Suite, (Linn)

Warm, silky, flexible and lithe, the core sound of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe's strings under director/violinist Alexander Janiczek bends easily to the capricious moods and textures of "Apollon musagète".

Baroque music was Stravinsky's model, yet Calliope, Polymnie and Terpsichore could be soubrettes in an Offenbach opera bouffe. There's more brilliance, edge and variety in the "Pulcinella Suite". François Leleux's sinuous oboe solos in the Serenata and Gavotta beguile.