Always popular, the Amici Ensemble returns each year as a different combination – for 2025 Donald Armstrong, Alexander McFarlane and Andrew Joyce will be joined by Jian Liu to play piano quartets.

But not before, in typical Amici style, they start with yet another type of ensemble – a String Trio by Jean Françaix. It is a brief early work, written in 1933, filled with light-hearted joy and sprightly dance-like rhythms for three of its four movements. In contrast, the third movement Andante is gentle and melancholy.

Two of the great piano quartets make up the rest of the programme. Fauré’s second quartet, an imposing work written in 1886, is a fine example of the French composer’s distinctive craftsmanship and refined elegance.

The second half of the programme is devoted to Brahms. The third piano quartet is generally regarded as one of the great masterpieces of 19th century romantic music. The first movement, intensely moving and profound, is followed by a vigorous Scherzo. The cello introduces the deeply moving theme of the Andante, before the music surges forward into the restless energy of the final movement.