The height of luxury with two top pianists and two pianos for this concert at which the support of Poole Borough Council was gratefully acknowledged.

Eric Le Sage and Frank Braley were in good humour for Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos, an eclectically eccentric collection of ideas with the soloists engaging in tit-for-tat rhythmic exchanges.

An abrupt drop to a meditative section and an equally sudden revitalisation to a tear-away romp, followed by a marvellous evocation of gamelan sound, all heard within the first movement.

The central Larghetto further displayed Poulenc’s wicked wit, borne out in the finale which often dived into Stravinskian dissonances-such fun!

Directing the BSO Shuntaro Sato pulled out all the stops for a performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s thrillingly atmospheric Scheherazade.

Based upon the 1001 Nights story in four formidably scored movements its demands upon the orchestra’s principals, not least leader Amy Merchant, were frequent and all supremely well articulated. Sato’s seascape was impressively huge and the stories powerfully evinced.

Ravel’s delightful pastiche baroque homage Le Tombeau de Couperin takes advantage of a 20th century orchestra.

Even so, Sato’s employment of a sizeable force, though offering a richer sound, seemed rather heavy in the lighter movements. That said the BSO’s virtuosity shone through.