Alexandra Lomeiko & Olga Sitkovetsky, Central Hall, Darlington

THOUGH Adelia Myslov and Craig White had to withdraw owing to ill health, Darlington Music Society was fortunate to find replacement artists at short notice with a different but very attractive programme.

They began with Beethoven’s Violin Sonata, Op. 12, No. 3, in a bright and sunny opening with the piano clear and straightforward.

The following Adagio was sensitively played with piano and violin taking it in turns to lead, and a rather moving conclusion.

In the Brahms Violin Sonata No. 2 there was a more even balance between the instruments with violinist Lomeiko demonstrating a particularly sweet tone towards the end of the Allegro amabile.

Enjoyable as these were, the highlight for me was Elgar’s Violin Sonata, written in a peak of creativity in 1918; it was good to hear this magnificent work in a suitably sweeping performance.

Here the violin was noticeably in the lead, setting the initial tempo and with some fulsome soaring phrases balanced by a tender Romance before an accelerating and exciting conclusion.

The formal recital ended with Franz Waxman’s Carmen Fantasie, a wonderfully virtuosic show-off piece which touched on all the familiar melodies.

Dazzlingly fast or slow and romantic, the violinist captured the quickly changing moods and tempos to great effect.

Paganini’s Cantabile, with a lovely little violin coda, provided a delightful encore.

The society’s last concert, by the Eeden (formerly Wu) String Quartet, takes place on April 18; details at http//dms.btck.co.uk or 01325 467163.

Peter Bevan