Fritz Kreisler’s many short pieces for violin and piano – original compositions, arrangements and stylistic parodies – remain a rich source for violinists searching for encores or lighter items in a recital programme. Carlos Damas and Anna Tomasik have made an attractive selection of generally less well known pieces, demonstrating how Kreisler gave his charm and individuality to everything he touched. As well as enriching the repertoire, Kreisler issues a challenge to violinists, to play these pieces as effectively and as affectingly as he did himself. Damas, with his unforced, expressive tone and his willingness to introduce the subtle slides and rhythmic modifications that animate Kreisler’s own playing, has some striking successes. The Chaminade, the Schumann and the Allegretto à la Boccherini are all beautifully played, and Syncopation finds Damas and Tomasik in a winningly lively, unbuttoned mood. Elsewhere I had some reservations – the Mendelssohn, which Kreisler himself is able to present as a single melodic arch, is here more broken up and so doesn’t have the same emotional effect. The outer sections of La Précieuse seem too fast to bring out the music’s sentimental character. And in Schön Rosmarin, it’s a shame that Damas didn’t dare to be more flexible in tempo and to point the cross-rhythms with more enthusiasm.

There’s plenty to enjoy in this recital but I’d urge you to treat it as a supplement to Kreisler’s own recordings, not a replacement.