Joined by acclaimed Scottish pianist Steven Osborne, WASO and principal conductor Asher Fisch here delivered one of their most original and entertaining concert programs to date: four relatively short 20th century works, each infused with jazz and popular music idioms, each ricocheting off the other with a satisfying spark and frisson.

Boris Blacher (1903-1975) was born in China to Russian parents and eventually settled in Berlin. His Concertante Music, Op.10 (1937) is full of a rhythmic vitality and verve whilst maintaining a finely-cultivated classical poise. It served as a terrific overture, WASO and Fisch relishing the concertante handballs and forward momentum as they drove the music towards a forthright conclusion.

Steven Osborne and the WASO. Photo © Rebecca Mansell

Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G needs even less introduction that Osborne, a marvellous, protean pianist with enviable improv chops. Ravel’s concerto revels in jazzy hijinks, and so does Osborne, who together with WASO and Fisch honoured Ravel’s humour and light touch throughout the outer movements while imbuing the nocturne-like middle movement with a luxuriant decadence. Osborne’s encore, a solo piano arrangement (with improvisations) of Gershwin’s I Loves You Porgy was pure magic.

Mihaud’s...