The first half of the concert featured two contrasting concerti. Kyrill Gusarov (trumpet) gave a polished performance of the Hummel concerto. He produced a wonderfully sweet legato in the aria-like slow movement while being more than capable of the lightness and agility demanded by the final rondo. Pawel Zuzanski (violin) showed great virtuosity in Bach’s A minor concerto, setting some exhilarating tempi in the outer movements and showing smoothness of line in the central Andante.

Zusanski’s playing reminded us too that the soloist in these Bach concerti is only one amongst equals, the dialogue between soloist and the other strings being a vital component of the performance.

An elegant account of the Divertimento in F K138 by the teenage Mozart opened the second half. It was followed by a string arrangement of Fauré’s Pavane. The opening solo (normally for flute) was executed beautifully by the cellist, Dmitri Gornovsky, and led to an absorbing and impassioned performance. In both this and the Holst which followed special credit should be given to the warm tone of the viola soloist, Ariane Alexander.

In Holst’s St Paul’s Suite the Kammerphilharmonie produced a performance of great rhythmic vitality and attack – fortes which belied their numbers and soft pizzicati of amazing precision – which rounded off the advertised concert in a rousing fashion.

The audience had given the players warm encouragement throughout and were now rewarded by encores in which the group let their hair down, including Astor Piazzolla’s ‘Oblivion’ and a ragtime ‘Souvenir’ by Victor Poltoratsky. A great way to end an excellent evening!

CJS