French cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras and Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov present Beethoven in a way that keeps virtuosity well to the fore and is full of unexpected touches. Queyras moves at times with the freedom and lightness of a violinist – try his tippy-toe racing in the finale of the Sonata in A – and Melnikov is admirably fleet and delicate as well. If the unorthodox is high on your agenda, these eventful performances, where surprise whispers and caresses are an important part of the interpretative strategy, may be just what you're looking for. For me, they trigger a real sense of wonder, but also a feeling that the centre doesn't always quite hold. A set for the musically adventurous. url.ie/55ay