Worcester Concert Club spent an uplifting afternoon in the company of distinguished musicians Raphael Wallfisch (cello) and John York (piano).

Searching unison octaves of Beethoven’s Sonata in A major, Op.69, were soon taken over by dazzling pianism set against long drawn bowing.

Whimsical repartee between the duo with coquettish trills at the cadence prefaced a gleeful scherzo wherein perfect timing of responses and deliberate cut-offs of phrases was arresting.

The third movement’s glorious melody with drooping cello figures and gently sustaining piano developed until symmetry of joyful tunes achieved an exhilarating finale.

In Sonata by Frank Bridge, the cellist sang rhapsodic songs as the pianist enhanced with mesmerising harmonies in a performance of poetic passion. Adagio found the pianist in reverie while the cellist was unearthly.

Tumultuous virtuosity of cascading arpeggios from York and dark angry thoughts, though tuneful always, from Wallfisch surged on to its finish, a feeling of pathos hovering.

Sospiri by Elgar, lingering exquisitely, was played in memory of Margaret Elgar a long-time member of WCC, who died last year.

Sonata by John York was interesting. The two instruments were at odds with each other for most of the work – playing in different keys, when one was staccato the other was more lyrical, sinister piano chords, cello rising from very low notes – until towards the end lively rhetoric developed and a meeting of their diverse ways was reached.

Brahms’s monumental Sonata in F major, Op.99 showed an apparently easy spontaneity which was indicative of the supreme understanding between Wallfisch and York as they used their entire expressive range and musical understanding in a consummate delivery. Melodies were reiterated as each complemented the other; eloquent beauty ebbed and flowed as the musicians transcended thrilling heights of artistry.

On Sunday, February 20 Patricia Rozario (soprano) and Craig Ogden (guitar) will perform for WCC, in Huntingdon Hall at 3pm.

Jill Hopkins