Pianists who are sometimes soloists and sometimes perform with one or a few other musicians in “chamber music” often become more free and expressive when they play alone but hold back and adopt a more restrained approach in a group.

Young Syrian pianist Riyad Nicolas was the opposite, performing diffidently in three Fryderyk Chopin pieces, the Mazurkas nos. 2 in C major and 4 in B flat minor from his opus 24 and then the well-known Polonaise-fantaisie in A flat. Although he played all the right notes in the right order and was true to the composer’s tempo markings, the spirit of the music seemed distant and the playing disengaged – but at least the audience was not deafened as can happen with a grand piano in the Dome Studio.

When violinist Yuka Ishizuka, another outstanding young chamber musician, joined him for Johannes Brahms’ Violin Sonata no. 1 in G major, his opus 78, Riyad Nicolas became far more animated and performed with passion and virtuosity whilst being attentive and supportive to his partner with whom he clearly has a great rapport.

This warm and lyrical sonata was written at about the same time as Brahms’ Violin Concerto when the composer was at last secure and self-confident in his late 40s.

Yuka Ishizuka played a Ceruti violin, from which she coaxed a marvellously full and warmly engaging sound, filling the Dome Studio and carrying clearly through the piano’s emphatic chords and swirling arpeggios in a memorable performance.