Album: Khachaturian, Spartacus/Gayaneh (Onyx)

Under Marin Alsop, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra raised its game with recordings of Bernstein and Adams. Now its new director, Kirill Karabits, has chosen an impactful selection of music from Khachaturian's ballets for his debut recording, affording a lively workout for the percussionists.

Karabits downplays the bodice-ripping elements, seamlessly blending perfumed woodwind and strings. An intelligent reading of music that nevertheless smacks of figure-skating.