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Despite bearing the classical name for the rough north wind in its title the Boreas Trio brought with it clement weather after the preceding icy snap, so on Friday 13th February a large audience was able to enjoy another excellent evening’s music-making in Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor. The Trio is distinctive in both composition and personnel: comprising violin, oboe and piano, its violinist Sophie Wang hails from China (and has been a soloist with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra), and oboist Camilla Bisengaliev is from a famous musical family in Kazakhstan (and a former soloist with the Kazakh State Symphony Orchestra). Although of less exotic provenance pianist Jonathan Fisher also has a CV of distinction, and all three players seemed perfectly matched in terms of expertise, musicianship and their evident pleasure in making music with each other and for an audience.

The first half had a pleasingly organic shape, with a gradually burgeoning core of romanticism. Bach’s well-known Concerto in D minor (originally for two harpsichords) proved the perfect starting-point, with its combination of beguiling melodies, underlying dance rhythms, and subtle interplay between the three participants. Sophie Wang’s violin then gave full and sweet expression to the adagio cantabile of Beethoven’s Romance in F, richly supported by the piano as ‘orchestra’. The romantic strain was at its most colourful and expansive in The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao. Said to be ‘the most popular Chinese composition ever’ the piece was certainly a hit with this audience, and it was not necessary to have read the storyline in the programme notes to be carried away by the swing and surge of the violin’s successive moods. Once again Jonathan Fisher’s piano supplied the requisite orchestral tonalities, in a piece which creates a successful fusion of Chinese and Western idioms.

The oboe took centre stage after the interval with a charming Sarabande and Allegro by the French composer Gabriel Grovlez, followed (after Elgar’s brief but vivacious Fugue for oboe and violin) by two of Schumann’s Three Romances. By way of finale the three musicians came together once more in Salieri’s Concerto in C major, a substantial three-movement work that provided an effective climax. Salieri (as all who have seen the film ‘Amadeus’ will know) has suffered from being a contemporary of Mozart’s, and it is probable wisest not to make the obvious comparison as one listens. His Concerto has its own ‘edge’ and vitality, and the Boreas Trio brought it to life with brio and impeccable style. Their instrumental proficiency, engaging presence and attractive choice of repertoire impressed their listeners enormously, and there is no doubt but that they will go on to successful careers, both individually and (one hopes) as an ensemble.

The next recital, at 7.30pm on Friday 13th March, will be given by the Barbirolli Quartet, and will include pieces by Haydn, Brahms and Ravel.

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