Northern Sinfonia, The Sage Gateshead In the finest tradition of the profession, the show had to go on – injured shoulder regardless. Initially programmed to perform Shostakovich’s devilish Cello Concerto No 1, the renowned cellist Heinrich Schiff had, though, to defer to the advice of his doctor and opt for less physically strenuous pieces by Vivaldi; a late switch that required deft last minute changes to the programme notes. The evening at The Sage Gateshead opened with Schiff the leading strings of The Northern Sinfonia in Vivaldi’s Cello Concertos in B minor and G major. These were lithe readings, with Schiff looking over his should occasionally to egg his accompanists on, with a twitch of an eyebrow or smile. The highlight came when Schiff teamed up with the sinfonia’s principal cellist Louisa Tuck in Vivaldi’s Double Concerto in G minor. It was a treat to see one of the most promising young cellists of today paired with one of the doyens of the instrument. Although a generation apart, they were musically at ease with each other, with Tuck showcasing her virtuosity against the assured experience of Schiff in a scintillating dialogue. The second half evening saw the old warhorse of the repertoire, Beethoven’s Symphony No 3 Eroica, wheeled out. As well versed in the work as the sinfonia may be, there was nothing tired or hackneyed about the performance. Schiff led the Sinfonia through a briskly paced first movement. He was economical in his conducting, but his grand gestures came at crucial junctures and conveyed an overwhelming sense of the work’s drama. The slow funeral march oozed sonority with heartfelt playing from oboist Daniel Bates, while the whole was driven to a triumphant climax. Here’s to wishing Schiff a speedy recovery and perhaps for a return to present the Shostakovich work we missed.