Naxos has now begun an impressive new series covering Boccherini’s twelve cello concertos. (Our listing uses the Gérard catalogue, so the collector must be careful to identify the contents of each CD by the Gérard numbers.) They are beautifully performed on modern instruments but with concern for period practice, and superbly recorded. There is dedicated playing not just from the soloist but also from the excellent Scottish Chamber Orchestra under Anthony Halstead. Tim Hugh offers a substantial cadenzas not only in the first movements of each work but also in slow movements and finales too. Throughout, Hugh and Halstead make a stimulating partnership and all these works spring appealingly to life.

Naxos then turned to Raphael Wallfisch and the Northern Chamber Orchestra under Nicholas Ward, with predictably stimulating results. Indeed, this is one of the finest single discs of Boccherini cello concertos in the catalogue. The performances are peerless and the recording excellent in every way (like the documentation).