Tchaikovsky’s 12 Seasons (which might more truthfully have been called ‘Months’) are slight but winningly poetic piano miniatures – though in the hands of a pianist like Mikhail Pletnev they display unexpected depths of colour and feeling (Virgin, 11/99). If they are to be transcribed for violin and orchestra, Takako Nishizaki is surely their ideal exponent, for she plays with delicacy yet fully displays the nostalgic charm of ‘January’ (subtitled ‘By the Fireside’), and the springlike freshness of ‘March’ (‘Song of the Lark’).

The fanciful miniaturism of the ‘April’ portrait of a ‘Snowdrop’ is delightful, too, and she is in her element in the favourite number, the gentle romantic ‘Barcarolle’ which Tchaikovsky chose for ‘June’. All these pieces are afforded discreetly scored accompaniments and the scherzo for ‘August’, depicting ‘The Harvest’, is also felicitous. However the fully scored items (the ‘February: Shrovetide Festival’, and the brassy picture of the ‘September: Hunt’) are rather inflated by the resonant acoustic.

The piano pieces from Op 40 (the ‘Danse russe’ will be recognised from Swan Lake) come off very pleasingly in their new livery, while the closing Rêverie has a proper salon daintiness. Takako Nishizaki is a stylish and sweet-timbred exponent. Enjoyable performances then, but I have to say I prefer the original piano versions of The Seasons. Tchaikovsky knew best!