Twentieth Century Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra/Robert Craft Naxos 8.557532***

This disc juxtaposes Stravinsky in neo-classical and serial modes. The neo-classical Duo Concertant for violin and piano of 1933 (from Jennifer Frautschi and Jeremy Denk), the 1944 Sonata for Two Pianos (Ralph van Raat and Maarten van Veen), both here sound a little under-cooked, though the Elegy for solo viola (also 1944), glows with quiet lucidity from Richard ONeill, and Robert Craft's conducting of the 1941 Bluebird Pas de Deux (chamber orchestra re-scorings of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty), is affectionately wry.

Craft, who effectively introduced Stravinsky to serialism in the late 1940s, handles the often haunting combination of spreadeagled melodic writing and colouristic flair in the "sacred ballad" Abraham and Isaac for baritone and chamber orchestra (1963), and the Requiem Canticlesfor soloists, choir and orchestra (1966) with sympathy. See robertcraft.net