The Van Baerle Trio have reached the end of their Beethoven cycle with what one might perhaps call a ‘bonus disc’ – and what a generous pair of extras to complete this consistently engaging series! The Trio Op 38, of course, is Beethoven’s own arrangement of the Septet, Op 20, while the Triple Concerto (or so the booklet notes rather cheekily argue) is included here as ‘Beethoven’s most richly instrumented chamber music’.

You can make up your own mind about that; but what I think this disc demonstrates beyond dispute is the advantage of approaching the Triple Concerto as a concerto grosso, with an established trio playing as a team rather than three star soloists vying to outreach each other. As throughout their cycle, the Van Baerles apply historically informed details with a light and unaffected touch (though they use modern instruments, including a straight-strung Chris Maene concert grand).

The Trio’s buoyant rhythms and lucid textures are coupled to a real sense that these three players are enjoying themselves as equals. They receive characterful but unfussy support from de Vriend and the Residentie Orkest; the opening tutti is splendidly dramatic. The effect, overall, is fresh, idiomatic and (for me, anyway) hugely entertaining.

And then, like the most lavish encore imaginable, we’re on to Op 38. Here, the holiday mood becomes irresistible; and if the headlong enthusiasm and rhythmic verve of the playing might benefit from a smidgen more relaxation (particularly in the Adagio), this is a very mild qualification of a performance that bubbles over with imagination, clarity and joy. This is Beethoven played as if the ink is still wet, and I can’t imagine a more delightful sign-off to this highly enjoyable cycle.