Nicolas Flagello’s traditional late-romantic musical values and powerfully emotional and spiritual expressiveness are explored deeply in this program, from the grimly funereal Odyssey to his intensely sombre and turbulent Symphony No.2 and a new arrangement of the dark and tempestuous Concerto Sinfonico, his last completed work. Transcribed for saxophones, Valse Noire was originally a test piece for accordion.

Arnold Rosner’s superbly crafted and highly individual works draw on archaic models, the Symphony No.8 engaging us from a position of meditative devotion and majestic mysticism.

The University of Houston Wind Ensemble has been admired for its ‘striking lightness and delicacy’ (ClassicsToday.com on Vittorio Giannini’s Symphony No.3 on 8570130).