LORD BERNERS (1883-1950): The Triumph of Neptune (Complete ballet), L’uomo dai baffi (English Northern Philharmonia), 3 Valses bourgeoises and Polka (orch. Philip Lane).

Description: The Triumph of Neptune (1926) is one of Berners’ major works and his most ambitious ballet score, commissioned by Diaghilev with choreography by Balanchine. A ballet-pantomime-harlequinade, its inconsequential plot features music as diverse as it is brilliantly inventive. L’uomo dai baffi (1918) is a delicious ballet for puppets with stripped-back instrumentation, and Philip Lane’s deft orchestrations of Valses bourgeoises and Polka offer ripe wit. Royal Ballet Sinfonia; David Lloyd-Jones. Original 1998 Marco Polo release.