A FANTASTIC performance of Beethoven’s first violin sonata launched the first recital of the new season of Weymouth lunchtime chamber concerts.

The musicians were Catrin Win Morgan, the superb violinist from mid-Wales and Duncan Honeybourne, director of WLCC and Weymouth’s pianist extraordinaire.

Duncan introduced the concert by saying how privileged he felt to be able to play with Catrin a themed series comprising all of Beethoven’s six violin and piano sonatas and all of Brahm’s three by April.

When Beethoven composed his first violin sonata Opus no 12 in D major in 1798, he was a struggling young musician scarcely known to the public.

Beautifully played by both artistes, the work was in strict sonata form; a sparkling first movement (Allegro con brio), a slower second theme (Andante) with attractive variations and finally a jolly foot-tapping Rondo.

Brahm’s violin sonatas were not performed until years after his death in 1897. He had stuffed them in a chest, thinking them unworthy to be played in public.

His first sonata in G major, Opus 78 was written some 60 years after Beethoven’s and sounds noticeably less classical and more romantic.

It is deeply moving and often highly dramatic. Again in three movements, it suited the gorgeous tone of Catrin’s Stradivarius violin admirably.

The audience showed enormous appreciation of Catrin and Duncan's performances.

The next WLCC will be on October 8 with Crispin Steele-Perkins on the trumpet, Sophia Grech, mezzo-soprano and Leslie Pearson on the piano. On November 26, Duncan and Catrin will give their second Beethoven/Brahms concert.

JANET FERRETT