Two and a half years is a long time to wait, but composer Cyrus Meurant did not disappoint when he returned to the stage at the Sound Lounge, joined by fellow performers Andrew Smith on sax and Kirsten Williams on the violin.

Cyrus Meurant, Kirsten Williams and Andrew Smith. Image supplied

Meurant, a Sydney-based awarding-winning composer and musician, presented new music alongside staple classics. Sortie for solo piano, composed months before the world shut down, opened the intimate evening – Meurant’s first full length program since December 2019.

His signature translucent melodies were deftly etched out on the piano, meandering in a series of hypnotic, floral phrases.

The style of Meurant evokes a quiet, yet cinematic scope; his natural, delicate approach to his instrument perfectly forms the foundation of his unique compositional style. Simple melodies weave into more intricate and complex arrangement of notes; I closed my eyes and pictured an Austen heroine, lost, or wandering through fields of poppies.

This is music that tells a story – the listener is encouraged to draw their own conclusion.

Smith joined Meurant on stage for the next piece; a four-part ballad-esque piece, with Meurant on...