Fono Forum: outstanding. These early and middle-period works reveal Mendelssohn’s remarkable ability to unite classical poise with the warmth and imagination of early Romanticism. At the centre stands the Concerto in D minor for violin, piano and strings, written when the composer was only fourteen yet already displaying an astonishing command of form, colour and dialogue between the two soloists. The music moves naturally from Bach-inspired contrapuntal writing to lyrical reflection and spirited Hungarian-inflected exuberance, all marked by the elegance and clarity that would become unmistakably Mendelssohnian. The accompanying concert pieces for piano and orchestra balance brilliance with grace rather than overt display. In the Capriccio brillant and Rondo brillant, sparkling passagework and rhythmic vitality are shaped with lightness and transparency, while the Serenade and Allegro giocoso brings an atmosphere of wit and effortless charm. Ronald Brautigam’s finely articulated pianism and Isabelle van Keulen’s poised, expressive violin playing illuminate the music’s youthful energy without sacrificing its refinement, supported by the Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam under Lev Markiz in performances of warmth, agility and luminous string sound.