Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Britten, ECO
Benjamin Britten's Bach is a "middle-of-the-road" version of these delightful  works. They offer no startling departures from the Baroque style favored in the 1960s,  but are ripe, polished performances with a fearless trumpet soloist in No. 2, and  outstanding flute and violin solos throughout. Modern instruments and moderate tempos  may seem stodgy these days, but there's integrity in Britten's music-making and this set,  recorded in 1968, still sounds fresh, easily holding its own against more recent versions.  As an added attraction, London includes concerti for violin and oboe, and flute and  strings, both done in the 1970s with Neville Marriner leading light and springy readings  of distinction.--Dan Davis