City of Birmingham SO/ Andris Nelsons, Orfeo C 832 101 A *****

Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons, who turned 32 last month, has been winning golden opinions since he was appointed principal conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 2008 after conducting a single, private concert with the orchestra in 2007. Given his penchant for controlled impetuosity, his approach to Tchaikovsky manages to sound remarkably natural in manner. Nelsons creates an aura of sensuality that sounds fresh and true rather than indulgent, and he’s helped greatly by a togetherness of spirit in the playing that counts for a lot more than raw virtuosity. “I always want the music to sound as if it were composed yesterday,” he has said. And with a wisdom you might regard as being far beyond his years, that’s exactly what he achieves here. See url.ie/6f5v