Fresh from their tour of China, the Coull Quartet played the new Butterworth Hall for the first time. Improved acoustics and new seating bringing the audience closer to the players all helped to make the homecoming a well received concert.

We expect a technically exact and well controlled performance from the Coull and this was delivered in Haydn's C Major Quartet, the second of his six Opus 20.

Coull comfortably addressed Haydns' demands for expert skill and demonstrated the composer's contrapuntal dexterity in the final fugue.

Schubert's famous Death and the Maiden Quartet – the second movement is adapted from the piano accompaniment to his 1817 macabre song, Der Tod und das Mädchen – was enthusiastically applauded at the end of a final presto, in the form of a lively tarantella.

The mood changed as Martin Roscoe joined the Coull for Dvorak's Second Piano Quintet – one of three masterpieces in the form (the others being Brahms and Schumann).

Cellist Nicholas Roberts' lyrical playing over Roscoe's piano accompaniment pre-empts a series of complicated sets of variations before reaching a hugely energising, powerful conclusion.

Roscoe brought a fine balance to the performance, particularly the popular folkdance-like scherzo, where he clearly enjoyed his strong left hand input.

Clive Peacock

Verdict: A rewarding homecoming.