The name on the cover caught my eye. Organists will know Théodore Dubois (1837-1924) from his Toccata in G (No 3 of Douze pièces), Fiat lux and other showpieces for the instrument, but I doubt if many have come across his chamber music. From the myriad forgotten examples of the 19th and early 20th century one looks for an individual voice – a striking turn of phrase, something beyond the routine; for mere well-schooled composers and craftsmanship were never in short supply. On that score, Dubois just about makes the grade. A hint of the musical language one can expect can be got from the composer himself, from a heartfelt outcry made when he was 75 years old and quoted in Marc Weiser’s informative notes: “The art of Berlioz, Franck, Lalo, Gounod, Massenet and Saint-Saëns is not dead!”

The Sonata for cello and piano begins conventionally enough, but its second movement is arresting, with a lovely opening theme that dissolves into a fearsome Scherzo; next, after the dangerously sentimental first subject of the Ballade, comes an idea catchy enough to tempt others to try it; and then there’s the Violin Sonata (premiered in 1900 by Ysaÿe and Pugno, no less). Here is a really excellent work, the finest on the disc. It may be indebted to Franck and Saint-Saëns but its passionate outpouring and appealing lyricism are none the worse for that.

Overall, by the end of this enjoyable, convincingly played and well recorded collection, one is left with the feeling that Dubois indubitably merits the commitment of these fine musicians and the effort that’s gone into such an enterprising disc.