This warmly recorded version not only goes to the top of the tree as the most satisfying account of Zemlinsky’s score in the current catalogue, but also trumps its closest rivals in offering the most apposite and brilliantly performed coupling of Franz Schreker’s colourful ballet score Der Geburtstag der Infantin.

I applaud Petrenko and the orchestra for delivering outstanding readings of these well-matched historical mementos. For listeners devoted to Die Seejungfrau, this account could easily be a first choice. It comes in vivid, lifelike sound that brings out the vibrancy of Zemlinsky’s orchestration. Better performances aren’t likely to come our way for a long time.

Petrenko’s interpretation [of the Schreker] is a pleasure from first to last. The excellent playing of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic brings each of the episodes vividly to life.

There are many moments for strings and winds to shine as they play an innocent melody for the Infanta, and there's an exquisite section featuring a solo violin for the dance of the puppets. It's not all sugar-coated sweetness, though, and Petrenko makes sure to bring out the darker moments.

The RLPO’s performances of both works perhaps do lack the last degree of tonal finesse that these scores ideally deserve, but the pairing is a bold, imaginative one, which ought to win more admirers for two composers whose music has never quite made it into the orchestral mainstream.