Why is Beethoven so delightfully cute on the flute? Beethoven might be rolling in his grave as I say this, but as I listened to this album, I just kept finding myself smiling at the cheeky phrases effortlessly tossed off by flautist Emmanuel Pahud, pianist Daniel Barenboim and their colleagues. Starting with an enchanting arrangement of the Violin Sonata No. 8, the album also includes the Serenade in D major for Flute, Violin and Viola, as well as the Trio in G major for Flute, Bassoon and Piano.

Last year marked the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s death and ABC Classic celebrated by playing every work he ever wrote. If you missed these sweet little chamber works you must listen to this album. Not only are the works themselves purely delightful, but the musicianship is superb. What particularly tickled my fancy though was in the inclusion of the Beethoven Duo for Two Flutes in G major. Did you even know this existed? I bet you didn’t! I play it almost every week with my students as sightreading practice and it’s yet to get old. Give yourself a treat with this pick-me-up from Beethoven.

Kate Rockstrom is a friend of Readings