Anton Stadler Trio Stokesley Methodist Church THE second of Teesside Music Society’s 4pm concerts at Stokesley Methodist Church this season welcomed the distinguished Anton Stadler Trio – Janet Hilton, clarinet; Robin Ireland, viola; and Sarah Bath Briggs, piano – with a various programme for their instruments.

Mozart’s Trio in e flat, K498, Kegelstatt, allegedly so named because Mozart is said to have composed it while playing skittles, provided a charming and inventive opening, not least in the nice flowing line of the final rondo.

Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, D821 owes its existence to the invention of the arpeggione – a guitar-cello, related to the viola da gamba, now relegated to a museum piece. It is more usually performed by cello and piano, but hearing it performed by Robin Ireland and Sarah Beth Briggs, I found that the lighter, gentler voice of the viola gives the work a slightly sweeter, more convincing edge.

Schumann’s Märchenerzälungen (Fairy Tales), op 32 were delightfully displayed, with the three players creating lively images in the listener’s mind, as did Janet Hilton in her fluent projection of Leonard Bernstein’s rather spiky 20th Sonata for Clarinet and Piano with its jazz-orientated final andantino.

Four of Max Bruch’s 8 Pieces for clarinet, viola and piano provided a romantic finale to the evening, with a bonus of a further movements from the work as an encore.

Next in the series, on February 7, the Carducci String Quartet play Haydn, Moeran and Beethoven quartets at St Bernadette’s, Nunthorpe; details on www.teesmusic.co.uk.

Dave Robson

● An extra concert is being arranged in collaboration with the Arc, Stockton, on April 15, when the Walton Piano Trio will play Haydn, Mendelssohn and Ravel trios; details from 01642-525199 or www.arconline.co.uk. The Walton Trio will also take part in a free Darlington Piano Society masterclass with Sarah Beth Briggs at 10.30am on March 27 at Darlington Arts Centre.