The Northern Sinfonia’s latest collaboration with Classic FM at The Sage Gateshead featured several hits from the radio station’s Hall of Fame. A popular and lighter pick of music it may have been, but the performances were underpinned by the heavyweight coupling of the house band’s principal flute Juliette Bausor and former harpist to royalty Catrin Finch. The duo delivered a compelling rendition of of Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp. Bausor left the blocks with a confidence and zest that never faltered throughout this marathon work; one of Mozart’s longest. Backed sensitively by a small ensemble of strings, oboes and horns, Bausor’s playing pulsated with energy. While she does fast thrillingly, her treatment of the melodious slow movement was nothing short of sublime. The eloquently crafted lines were so soothing one could easily have been lulled into a dreamy slumber, as indeed happened to one member of the audience who broke into an audible snore; (thankfully) at the end of the slow movement. A rush of rare inter-movement applause woke the embarrassed offender. Debussy’s dance sacree et danse profane was Finch’s chance to take the lead. The dances are some of the most played orchestral works in the harp’s repertoire, however, there was nothing tired about this reading. It positively sparkled. Sinfonia leader Bradley Creswick made a fine job of directing the ensemble from the violin, with the players responding intuitively to their cues. Other works performed included Faure’s Masques et bergamasques, Elgar’s Salut d’ amour and Vaughan William’s Fantasia on Greensleeves. The evening was rounded off with Respighi’s colourful Gli Uccelli (The Birds). Comprising humorous portraits of different types of birds, the five-movement worth was a treat. The next individual talent to take the front seat will be the sinfonia’s principal bassoonist Stephen Reay who perform Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto at the next concert on at 7.30pm on Thursday. A definite date for the diary. Box office: 0191-443 4661.

Gavin Engelbrecht