ON A typical February day the Trio Dali launched into the first movement of Beethoven’s Piano Trio in E flat, Op.1, No.1 – the bright and cheerful Allegro – composed when he was only 22.

The performance confirmed both his genius and sense of joy, strong and full of bravura.

Amandine Savary’s piano style is precise and elegant. The combination with violinist Jack Liebeck and cellist Christian-Pierre La Marca brought out all the quality of the music, each instrument having its own special sphere while achieving a sweet, rich harmony as a whole.

Both violinist and cellist play superb instruments from the 18th and 19th centuries and as the venue has an excellent piano, this was indeed a feast for the senses.

Smalley’s (1943-2015) Piano Trio was the 13-minute-long set piece for the 1991 Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition and was designed to "create a wide variety of moods and textures".

It was certainly clever and demanding, if rather strange, scary music. I was unable to identify the Chopin Mazurka referred to in the notes.

Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor,Op. 66 (following the interval with tea and cake) started with the well-named Allegro energico e fuoco.

The Finale: Allegro appassionato was a thing of great colour and texture with every instrument making its unique contribution and all coming together to produce a glorious finale.

Tribute must be paid to the page-turner Christopher Haigh who skilfully performed this function for Amandine Savary and disappeared modestly at the end without acknowledgement.

Following enthusiastic applause we enjoyed a beautiful encore – Valse Russe by English composer Frank Bridge.

Teesside Music Society has deservedly had a very successful season with one further concert in the series on March 19 at 7.15pm with Tamsin Waley-Cohen (violin).

Irene MacDonald