After working with the likes of The Brodsky Quartet, Burt Bacharach and Anne Sofie von Otter over the last 10 years, you knew it was only a matter of time before Elvis Costello tried his hand at making an entire classical composition on his own. Il Sogno, whose name is derived from the abbreviated title Sogno di una Notte di Mezza Estate, is Costello's attempt at creating a score for the Italian dance company Aterballetto's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

It's very interesting to note that Costello takes very little inspiration from Felix Mendelssohn's original Romantic era vision, and instead comes about with something that feels like more of a Modern piece a la Sergey Prokofiev's Peter And The Wolf. It's also very intriguing to hear Costello add many swingin' jazz pieces to the likes of The State Of The Affairs and Puck 2. To a classically trained ear, this may be tantamount to torture, but for someone like me, it feels fun and fancy-free. Even Costello is quoted as saying "The people of the court are accompanied by the grander orchestral gestures and an element of pomp and musical parody, while the workers are announced by folk dances and marches. When it came to the supernatural beings, I thought it only appropriate that they should be swinging fairies."

The music here is performed in excellent fashion as always by the London Symphony Orchestra and led by conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. Thomas treats Costello's work with tender loving care, as is evidenced by many subtle and thoughtful changes in dynamics throughout the entire piece. Costello lovers should be forewarned that this is an entire classical work with no singing, so if classical music isn't your thing, don't come any closer. But for those of you with an open mind and an ear for beautiful music, this is the perfect accompaniment for a lazy Sunday afternoon.