Tanya Anisimova and Pi-Hsun Shih gave a wonderful performance in the Salon Concert series at Promisek. Their program was rich in emotionally demanding music, including the Brahms F Major cello sonata, the Arpeggione of Schubert, and Ms. Anisimova’s own transcription for cello of the magnificent Bach Chaconne. This was a wonderful program but not one for every duo to pull off successfully. Hearing it with these two performers was very satisfying, as they played each piece with passionate involvement guided by deep stylistic understanding. 

Ms. Anisimova plays with passionate intensity and exquisite taste. Her phrasing is sure and expressive, and her cello sound is penetrating but nuanced. All three of these pieces are demanding of the cellist, but of course the solo Chaconne from the violin suite is most openly virtuosic, especially when executed on the larger instrument. The performance was remarkable, played with an extraordinary concentration. She communicated the Chaconne’s relentlessly growing emotional impact with complete commitment, and to hear it on the cello was itself a revelation.

The Brahms is highly virtuosic for the pianist, and Ms. Shih gave it a scintillating performance. She plays with stylistic clarity and intention which grounded the melodic instrument. These two performers have played together many times in the past, and that showed as well in the unity with which they delivered this large-scale and demanding piece. The Arpeggione benefited similarly. The great beauties of this, Schubert’s most successful work for duo instruments, are one moment melancholy and yearning and the next dancing with humor; it requires a shared understanding and subtle delivery to bring off, which they did with joy and assurance.