The rather curious title here, ‘Nordic Cello Soul’, covers widely diverse music by three Nordic composers. The pair of opening Andantinos by Sibelius (written in 1884 and 1887 respectively) are gentle and eloquent, the first a simple melancholy song-like tune ‘influenced by Grieg’, suggests the pianist, Mats Jansson. The second is more ambitious and in ternary form.

The Lulu Waltz is very brief but charming. Then comes the finest work of the four, the Theme and Variations, also from 1887 but more mature and demanding considerable virtuosity from the cellist. All four pieces were written for the composer’s brother, whose obvious skills are mirrored here by the sensitive playing of Hampus Linderholm partnered by the excellent Mats Jansson.

However, when they enter the enticing melodic world of Grieg, the Nordic feeling is more striking. Not so much in the early (1867) Intermezzo in A minor but certainly in the lovely and highly characteristic Allegretto, arranged from the Third Violin Sonata (1887), showing the composer in full melodic flow. The Cello Sonata, written in the same year, opens with a vigorous Allegro agitato but has a winning secondary theme, matched by the delightful following Andante molto tranquillo. The finale dances off with vivacious Nordic vigour. This work shows both artists at their finest; indeed, the performance is superb.

I found the aggressive opening Robusto of Lidholm’s Four Pieces very appealing, and the second piece, Fantastico, is hardly molto tranquillo. But the performance (like everything else in the programme) is first class and the recording very real.