In his introduction, Andrew Comben, Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival Chief Executive, said he had long held a wish to host the Aronowitz Ensemble.

And it did not take long to understand why.

A selection from Dvořák’s Cypresses for string quartet - love songs composed for a piano pupil that he had fallen in love with - were flawlessly delivered and played with great subtlety. The sound was so harmonious between the musicians that the result frequently felt like a single song floating in the air. The final thin note of the selection was beautifully held.

As a sharp reminder for everyone to snap to attention after this reverie Beethoven’s Sonata in D for cello and piano, composed 200 years ago, was full of drama.

From his visionary late period, the performance was fierce and delicate at the same time and the extraordinary slow movement ended with a typical Beethoven hanging question mark.

After the interval it was the turn of Brahms to flood the senses with drama and energy as the ensemble swept the audience along with his Piano Quintet Op 34 in F Minor, a no holds barred flourish to end the show.

We can but hope it is not 200 years before the Aronowitz are back.

Four stars