THE composers featured in this Hall of Fame concert included an Englishman; Elgar.

His haunting Cello Concerto is imbued with his personal grief for everything lost during the Great War and that poignancy was convincingly elucidated in a moving performance by Philip Higham, a cellist of exceptionally serene sensitivity.

His account eschewed the slightest edginess of timbre yet conveyed the painful concept with a wonderful evocation of sadness.

Even when Elgar bucks-up the proceedings with a forced cheer, the regret was never far below Higham’s beautiful interpretation.

Shuntaro Sato’s direction of the BSO made a vivid impression in Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake.

The seven movements included the delightful Dance of the Swans; the opening always bringing a smile to my face with the rather comic rhythms from oboes and bassoons.

A lovely harp solo from Eluned Pierce was extended by leader Amyn Merchant in heart-rending mood and followed by a fine duet with principal cellist Jesper Svedberg.

The Three-Cornered Hat, Suite No2 by Falla takes three Spanish dances and creates a veritable feast of idiosyncratic music; earthy, dramatic and all richly brought to life by Shuntaro’s players.

Beethoven’s Overture: Leonora No3 opened this programme sponsored by the Print Room and Westbeach, and hosted by Petroc Trelawny in his usual engagingly enthusiastic style.