Primrose Piano Quartet, Ripon Cathedral

THE Cathedral Concert Society’s opening concert of the year of mostly French music was well chosen, combining some unfamiliar pieces with the slightly better known.

They opened with the Violin Sonata by the Belgian-born César Franck which included some very sensitively played violin and a generally fine balance between piano and violin.

In Chausson’s Piano Quartet in A major, Op. 30, there was a lovely ensemble sound and some fine individual playing.

The second movement was not only calm, but somehow very reassuring and although the final Animé built up to what seemed like a stirring and passionate ending, it too returned to a calmer mood.

Francaix’s String Trio, written for three great string players of the time, is a deliberately quiet piece, light hearted at first but possibly teasing at times.

The muted Andante was quite wistful, but not sentimental while the brighter final movement seemed almost like a country dance here and there with a lovely pitter patter ending which brought a chuckle from the audience.

In Fauré’s beautifully crafted Piano Quintet in C minor, Op. 15, particularly in the touching Adagio, there was some exquisite playing from the strings with the gentlest tinkling piano to complement them.

In the next concert on Monday, February 9, pianist Ivana Gavric will play Grieg, Schubert and Rachmaninov. Tickets are available from 01765 690498.

Peter Bevan