Album: Gluck, Blessed Spirit: A Retrospective (Wigmore Hall)

Those who missed the Classical Opera Company's Gluck retrospective in January can stop fretting.

Ian Page's subtle survey explores the development of certain textures: the filigree strings and plaintive oboe obbligato of "Se povero il ruscello" (Ezio) and "Se mai senti" (La clemenza di Tito), the grand scenas from Antigono and Alceste. Ailish Tynan, Sophie Bevan and Anna Stéphany blend beautifully in the brief trio from Paride ed Elena. Sadly, there are no orchestral numbers though the playing is consistently incisive.