ARTHUR BLISS

This enthralling five CD conspectus opens with the symphony that established Bliss's name in 1922 and goes on to survey his ballet, film chamber and vocal music in authoritative recordings, several of them attended and endorsed by the composer himself. The final disc shows Bliss as an unmatched conductor of his own music, from the occasional prelude for the 900th anniversary of West Minster Abbey to a real rarity: Dame Joan Sutherland's first studio recording, the Song of Welcome for the young Queen Elizabeth II.