Prokofiev's 1st and 2nd violin concertos, Tchaikovsky's Serenade melancolique

SOLOIST Leila Josefowicz is no shrinking violet when it comes to enhancing her profile with the public.

With all the youthful exuberance of a 20-something, she likes the cut and thrust of TV chat shows and the commercial reality of the marketing meeting.

But that's hardly to be wondered at, given the competition around among solo violinists these days.

But Josefowicz is very much a woman of her time and she has skills aplenty and time to achieve even greater things.

Her handling of these violin concertos is uncompromising and utterly compelling.

Her opening to the 1st is extremely individualistic and full of character and she deliberately exaggerates the accents to counter the slow pacing of the piece.

The second offering is either a brilliant or brutal depiction, depending on your particular taste.

Either way this young violinist displays an impressive technical command to accompany the drama of her style.

Sandwiched between the two Prokofievs is Tchaikovsky's serenade.

After about four minutes, Josefowicz lets rip like a lioness escaping from a compound.

The aggression is such that the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Charles Dutoit, is almost inaudible.

But there's no denying the fact that this CD is hugely fascinating in its power and interpretation.

Philips 462 592-2PH

Conrado del Campo La Divina Comedia

THE ASV label continues its series of Spanish music with this work from a composer largely unknown outside his native Spain.

The Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria, conducted by Adrian Leaper, turns in a remarkable performance.

Inspired by Dante's Divina commedia, del Campo's symphonic poem is a tremendous discovery.

It is a vision of The Inferno that is full of Zarathustra-like Straussian splendour.

DCA 1100