Ah, but then there was Tchaikovsky to bring a smile to listeners, courtesy of his charming Rococo Variations for cello. Here, Albers delivered a sparkling reading, missing not a note, while luring out a surprising amount of depth from this gay little piece.

Whether zipping effortlessly through the technically demanding episodes or probing the dreamy slow ones, Albers maintained a welcome musicality and, aided by Kahane’s sure-handed leadership on the podium, crafted a cohesive and delectable performance.