Glazunov: Symphonies 2 and 7. Moscow SO/Alexander Anissimov. (Naxos)

It was in Russian repertoire that the National Symphony Orchestra's principal conductor-elect, Alexander Anissimov, initially made such a strong impression on Irish audiences. Here he's heard in charge of a Russian orchestra in the Second and Seventh (Pastoral) Symphonies of Alexander Glazunov, an influential conservative (sometime director of the St Petersburg Conservatory and teacher of Shostakovich) whose musical taste remained solidly rooted in the 19th century, although he lived until 1936. Anissimov directs lucid, idiomatic performances which should appeal strongly (especially at the price) to anyone interested in this particular musical byway.

By Michael Dervan

Paul McCartney: Standing Stone. London Symphony Chorus, LSO/Lawrence Foster. (EMI)

There's no shortage of ideas in Paul McCartney's EMI centenary commission, Standing Stone - we get some of his painting and poetry, too, in the lavish CD booklet. But, in spite of the assistance of a strong team of "musical associates" - Richard Rodney Bennett, John Harle, David Matthews and Steve Lodder - the 76-minute piece turns out to be of unrivalled banality. The music's most salient quality is its child-like naivety - musical finger-painting extended to a vainglorious length. This issue is best seen as an expression of poverty of musical imagination at EMI. There must be literally thousands of students at music academies around the world whose work is more interesting than this. But then, they don't have a name to guarantee the instant sales response of a McCartney.

By Michael Dervan

Giacomo Meyerbeer: "L'Etoile du Nord" (Naxos Marco Polo)If only, regular visitors to Wexford Festival Opera are often heard to sigh, its distinctive atmosphere could be bottled, taken home, stored in a cool, dark place and opened up occasionally for an energising, inspirational sniff! Well, these annual recordings by Naxos Marco Polo are as close as you'll get to "Eau de Wexford". Like many of the Wexford operas L'Etoile du Nord will never make it into the Opera Top 10 - but if you're prepared to abandon all hope of plot development and just enjoy its kaleidoscope of spectacular, military-coloured setpieces, you'll find a great deal to delight your ear - not least the playing of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland which, under the superbly precise direction of conducting wunderkind Vladimir Jurowski, leaps across the glittering score with pantherlike agility and grace. Arminta Wallace