THERE as a good atmosphere and pleasant buzz for Classical Cleveland’s first concert in Saltburn Community Theatre, which has comfortable seating and a bar where drinks can be ordered for the interval.

The theatre is managed by a group of very helpful and competent volunteers. A sizeable audience attended this recital by two young musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, both prize-winning postgraduate students.

I first heard them perform at Classical Cleveland’s Redcar venue, Tuned In, and was impressed by their musicianship.

David Gibson has played in masterclasses for top-flight pianists Nickolai Demidenko, Peter Donohoe and Stephen Hough, and Becky Else has performed with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

A tremendous opening by Else playing a 17th century Italian violin by Francesco Ruggieri took us into Brahms’ Sonatensatz, Scherzo in C-minor W002, followed by Gibson’s sparkling entry.

This music has an interesting story behind it. Apparently it was composed by Schumann in collaboration with Brahms and Schumann’s pupil, Albert Dietrich, as a tribute to violinist Joseph Joachim.

The trio composed one movement each and challenged Joachim to guess who had composed which one. Joachim played the piece with Clara Schumann on piano and easily identified the composers.

It is a fascinating work with intriguing changes in mood and some themes played in unison to great effect.

Ernest Chausson’s Poeme, opus 25 opened with a wandering piano theme followed by an exquisite violin passage which showcased the exceptional tone of the 400-year-old instrument, beautifully played by Else with delicacy and intensity.

Both musicians demonstrated the potential of their instruments in Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in G-major and Violin Sonata No.1 in A-major by Gabriel Faure.

Else has an excellent, classical style and a calm grace, while Gibson is more physically expressive, intense and passionate.

Irene MacDonald