For some listeners, the title
English Music for Strings will evoke memories of
John Barbirolli's spectacular 1966 EMI disc featuring works by
Edward Elgar and
Ralph Vaughan Williams. Though this 2010 Dutton disc of the same title, featuring
Martin Yates, also includes English music for strings, the composers range from the much less familiar Arnold Bax to the nearly unknown Stephen Dodgson, Richard Arnell, and
Norman del Mar. None of these works can hold a candle to
Elgar's Introduction and Allegro or
Vaughan Williams' Thomas Tallis Fantasia, but they are all still fine and attractive works, particularly Arnell's beautifully proportioned and lovingly lyrical Classical Variations in C for strings. And while
Martin Yates is no
John Barbirolli -- the extraordinary tonal sweetness that the older conductor was able to get from strings is not present here -- he is a technically accomplished conductor with an obvious enthusiasm for the repertoire, and the
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic's strings play with a ravishing tone and depth of dedication. Though not for everyone, this disc will likely please English music fans, especially in Dutton's clean but atmospheric digital sound.