Barber"s Violin Concerto and Bernstein"s Serenade are two of the most attractive and accessible pieces in the modern violin repertory. Both are superbly played by Perlman, as might be expected. But what makes this album a special treat is the Lukas Foss coupling--an unusual and charming work that belies the charges of critics who accuse Perlman of not being interested in contemporary music. Certainly this is one of his best discs. --David Hurwitz