Orchestra North East, Durham Cathedral

Wagner’s Overture to Tannhauser , evoking the battle between earthly pleasure and spiritual virtue, unfolded with measured care, its blossoming layers rolling in a succession of waves around the cathedral, filling every niche in swirling climaxes.

Passages of reflective calm were wonderfully conveyed by shimmering strings while burnished brass led the orchestra to a heady conclusion.

The concert also saw the eagerly-anticipated return of the renowned violinist Anna-Liisa Bezrodny, who wowed an audience at Durham’s Gala Theatre last year with Brahms’ Violin Concerto.

This time she turned her hand to Sibelius’ technically-challenging Violin Concerto.

The work’s premier in 1904 was dogged by bad luck when the composer was forced to change his soloist, who made a mess of it. Bezrodny’s reading was impeccable and as Sibelius would have intended.

Her evocative opening, taking flight over the strings, was spellbinding. Playing with energetic drive, Bezrodny projected the full spectrum of colour with searing clarity – both in thrilling cadenzas and sustained singing lines.

Henty was alive to her every nuance, sensitively modulating the musical forces at his disposal.

Soloist and orchestra blazed through the last movement with Bezrodny called back time and again to take appreciative applause.

The evening concluded with a full-blooded account of Brahms’ Fourth Symphony. From the lilting opening movement to its rhythmic climax, Henty conveyed the sweep of the vast canvas in broadbrush strokes, while revealing tantalising inner detail. The orchestra was in fine form, hurling itself into the task at hand. It was account that would rank with the finest.

Gavin Engelbrecht