The story is much the same as with the first volume of Naxos’s Karowicz symphonic poems. Although the orchestra is different (Vol 1 featured the Warsaw Philharmonic), the playing and recording are very much on the same level of serviceable competence. Give the rival BBC Philharmonic versions a spin and within a few bars the difference in class is obvious – in terms of tonal sheen, variety of colour and sheer personality, helped by the greater warmth and immediacy of the Chandos recordings. Run on for a few more minutes, and there is no mistaking the extra drama and clarity of structural profile Noseda and Tortelier bring to the music. With the New Zealand performances you would probably put Karowicz down as a mildly interesting, if somewhat dreary, provincial neighbour to Richard Strauss; from the BBC Philharmonic you get urgency, elation and the sense of a composer with something vital to say, even if he had not yet entirely found his own voice by the time of his death at the age of 32. That is a world of difference, though admittedly Chandos ask you to pay a lot more for the privilege.