This is the debut release from the Alban Berg Ensemble Wien and it’s one that you can tell Deutsche Grammophon feels strongly about, given that they have their own album release trailer on YouTube. Still, there’s reason behind DG’s support; this is a fascinating debut of rare intensity.

Album artwork

They begin with the Adagio from Mahler’s unfinished Symphony No 10. There are several different chamber reductions of this – I reviewed the Lapland Chamber Orchestra playing Michelle Castelletti’s version last year. Martyn Harry’s version is a true chamber version, set for flute, clarinet, string quartet, and piano. It’s an intelligent arrangement, echoing Mahler-like colours in a smaller format, but it’s certainly a pity that such a high-quality...