Rarely have I heard such unanimity of ensemble on disc. Tasmin Little and piers Lane’s fluid yet flexible approach to rubato and tempo fluctuation can only have been achieved after years of rehearsing together and exchanging musical ideas. Little’s intense and warm vibrato is matched by Lane’s wonderfully rich piano with its emphasis on the bass register, ideally suited to Brahms.

The vivace sections of the second movement are quicksilver, with light and nimble playing from Little and the always- excellent Piers Lane. The slow movement is a seamless flow of intense, controlled emotion, and the finale has some splendid theatrical outbursts.

The second sonata, with its melodic links to Brahms’ song Wie Melodien zieht es mir, finds Little soaring splendidly, while the crepuscular Andante tranquillo theme is perfectly judged. The third sonata is the finest performance of the three, with Little infinitely touching in the Adagio and a wonderful Scherzo from both musicians.