After this boisterous frolic came an ideal change of mood to Arthur Butterworth’s Romanza for horn and string quartet. Imbued with the English pastoral style it was sensitively played; its central, more agitated music given full value and the quiet ending, with its muted effects lingered in the mind. The composer was present and he told me afterwards that Stephen Stirling’s performance of the solo part had been ‘beautiful’.

This reflective interlude was followed by Weber’s Andante and Hungarian Rondo, another frolic played with great style. Encouraged by the leader Gina McCormack the accompanying string trio gave crisp and sparkily accented support to the solo bassoonist Julie Andrews. She was soulful in the opening, then full of dance-like bounce in the ensuing rondo with literally breath-taking virtuosity at the end and sent the audience off for the interval smiling broadly.

All the players returned for Schubert’s Octet. This hour-long serenade-like work can, in a less inspired performance outstay its welcome, but not on this occasion. The playing was always rhythmically alert, the double bass of Duncan McTier supplying a richly toned foundation to the ensemble throughout. Schubert gives a number of solo opportunities for the cello to which Benjamin Hughes responded expressively. Second violin and viola do not get a similar share of the limelight but Helen Paterson and Yuko Inoue played their essential supporting roles superbly. All eight players received heartfelt applause at the end.

A wonderful end to the season, Faboniccis come again.

G.K.