The resurgence of interest in the music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor reaches another milestone with this long-overdue first recording of his Violin Concerto. Coleridge-Taylor completed it in 1911 for the American virtuoso Maud Powell but never lived to hear a note. Already exhausted by a punishing work schedule and too weak to travel, he succumbed to pneumonia at his Croydon home three months after the June 1912 US world première, which was itself nearly cancelled after a first set of orchestral parts had gone down with the Titanic.

Abetted by polished and passionate playing from the recently formed Johannesburg PO under its British-born chief Michael Hankinson, Philippe Graffin triumphantly demonstrates what an effective, endearing work it is, acutely responsive as he is to its bittersweet lyricism – try the gorgeous central Andante – while equally relishing the many opportunities for solo display in both outer movements.

The choice of Dvorák’s concerto as a coupling would no doubt have pleased Coleridge-Taylor; the Czech master was his favourite composer. Again, there’s no missing the wholehearted commitment of all involved. Admittedly, there are times when one is aware that the orchestra is not in the luxury class (given the daunting logistical and financial obstacles in post-apartheid South Africa, it’s a miracle that it exists all), but Graffin plays with such vibrant character and imagination, and the whole venture radiates such a life-affirming spontaneity and joy in music-making that any relative drawbacks dwindle into insignificance. An enjoyable momento of what was clearly a special project, then, but it’s primarily for the Coleridge-Taylor that you should snap up this delightful issue.