The spirit of Easter, encapsulated in diverse works, descended upon the Lighthouse in some measure of light and shade. However, Beethoven’s Piano concerto No4 made the exception with a ravishing performance from Juho Pohjonen.

The pianist begins solo in subdued tone, joined by orchestral forces in lyrical extension. A finely articulated Andante con moto generates atmosphere leading to Pohjonen’s flowing and uplifting finale making, alongside one of Grieg’s many folk-inspired dances claiming the encore spot, the lighter disposition of this concert.

The cor anglais has a special resonance, one which composer James MacMillan exploits in his work dedicated to Maundy Thursday; The World’s Ransoming.

With the excellent Christine Pendrill as a regular performer of this piece and MacMillan himself conducting it is fair to say we have had a performance with the BSO of the highest calibre.

The music has a message and the keening mood has its roots in MacMillan’s Scottish heritage. Even with a Bach brass chorale pointedly struggling to surface the emotive dirge, its demands require anyone’s religious convictions to be deeply held for full effect.

Wagner’s aside to anything devotional is left to Parsifal and the Good Friday Music while Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Festival Overture is drenched in fantastic fanfares and nationalistic chants of imposing power.