CHRISTOPHER SMITH Tall, golden and gracefully curved, the harp dominated the platform at the start and end of this recital at the John Innes Centre, and its sonorities sounded all the better with the distinctive tone colours of the viola and flute.

CHRISTOPHER SMITH

Tall, golden and gracefully curved, the harp dominated the platform at the start and end of this recital at the John Innes Centre, and its sonorities sounded all the better with the distinctive tone colours of the viola and flute.

First, Lucy Wakeford combined with Roger Chase and Philippa Davies to capture the spirit of the Elegiac Trio by Arnold Bax, which lived up to its name and gave full expression to his charmingly fey romanticism. And at the end, the three players performed the equally delightful Sonata that Claude Debussy wrote for the same three instruments. The emotions were deeper here and more varied.

The pianist in the two other works was Piers Lane. Though his role in both was much more than mere accompaniment, he certainly made the most of his own opportunities when a little more tact might have enhanced the effect.

After a rather drawn-out opening movement, Prokofiev's Flute Sonata found the bounding energy we all expect from this composer as Philippa Davies revelled in all the different registers of her instrument. In a second work by Bax, Roger Chase was impressive on his viola.

This recital will be on Radio 3 at 1pm on May 23.