AN AFFECTIONATE ‘peck’ on the cheek after each work performed by Tasmin Waley-Cohen, violin, and Huw Watkins, piano, sealed a close musical partnership between these two very fine players.

The romance of three songs from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, in arrangements by Heifetz, is where they took their final bow. With Summertime’s hazy stillness beautifully evoked.

Away from standard repertoire, Respighi’s Violin Sonata made a welcome appearance at BCMS. It smacks of domestic disharmony, perceptively captured by Waley-Cohen and Watkins. Its sense of sweet melancholy preceded an aggressive exchange after which the violin silently sulks and the piano mutters away discretely. An impressive piece in which the latter two movements also contained some pertinent and effectively conveyed invective.

Beethoven’s Violin Sonata in D, op.12/1 was keenly shared between protagonists from the affirmative opening chords with considerable brio serving the first movement. Delicate expression in three of four variations, with a deal of vigour in the penultimate, gave the central movement its variety and the perky, off-beat finale allowed Waley-Cohen’s Stradivarius to shine in refreshing light.

Brahms’ Violin Sonata in A major, op. 100 begins with a gentle piano melody that is quickly transformed into by a more forceful aspect. The second movement is marked andante tranquillo and here Brahms throws in some disruptive passages, Watkins’ powerful piano playing placated by his partners’ exceptionally sweet-toned musings. The finale’s flowing lyricism persuasively calmed the waters.