With this glorious CD music lovers have an opportunity to revel in non-operatic Puccini works - the Messa di Gloria and two rather esoteric, but nonetheless stunning, orchestral pieces, "Preludio Sinfonico" and "Crisanterri." Among Puccini's earlier pieces, they are prelude to his later compositions. Often described as the London Symphony Orchestra's "secret weapon," conductor Antonio Pappano is a sublime interpreter of Puccini. Soloists for this album could not be more splendid - tenor Robert Alagna, and vaunted baritone Thomas Hampson.