IT was a captivating pair that performed at the Strand Ballroom last month – he, a gregarious, effusive Frenchman on trumpet; she, a graceful, reticent Japanese beauty on piano. Brought to Yangon by Alliance Francaise, the two performed a score by German, Italian and Japanese composers during a uniquely international concert April 30.

Mr Nicolas Baronnier, former director of Alliance Francaise in Sendai, Japan and an accomplished trumpeter, has been performing with pianist Ms Hiroko Miyagi for four years. Mr Baronnier began looking for musical accompaniment shortly after arriving at his posting in Sendai.

“Japan is positively full of very, very nice pianists because there is a large tradition of piano and violin playing there…I met many pianists, one of whom played perfectly and who was French speaking – that was Hiroko,” he said.

Ms Miyagi was a well-known musician at the time, having studied under pianist Mr Ken Sasaki and later at the Paris conservatory. She learned French as a child in the same place she found her French accompaniment as an adult – Alliance Francaise in Sendai. In over 30 performances together, she and Mr Baronnier have brought Japanese sonatas to France and French compositions to Japan. Japanese composer Mr Koh-ichi Hattori, inspired by the cross-cultural partnership, has written music for the pair fusing French and Japanese influences.

“We really feel in touch with this music and this composer,” said Mr Baronnier. “He has composed a sonata for trumpet and piano that is very Japanese in style but melded with French songs – it’s a point of meeting for both of us.”

The pair’s performance of several Hattori compositions was the highpoint of Saturday’s concert, an event long planned by Mr Jean Hourcade, director of Alliance Francaise in Yangon.

“Nicolas has a very good name as a trumpeter and Hiroko has long been his partner. We thought it would be a good idea to expose the art of the trumpet, which is very little known to the Myanmar public,” said Mr Hourcade.

The art of the trumpet is relatively new to Mr Baronnier himself, who did not pick up the instrument until he was 14. He says it wasn’t until he had become “fed up” with piano lessons that he discovered his talent for the trumpet.

“I worked very hard with the piano without any real result, but regarding the trumpet I never had any problem. Immediately it was really easy – I don’t know why. The trumpet is really more physical than the piano, less cerebral. It’s more my personality.”

Ms Miyagi, the perfectionist of the pair, presents the image of a self-possessed and rational pianist - a foil to Mr Baronnier’s jovial, harried intensity. She said she felt a warm connection with the Myanmar public and her audience of 500 on Saturday evening.

“There are some common references between this country and Japan,” she said, referring to the country’s Buddhist character and the importance of nonverbal communication in both societies.

“Each country is different because the language is different, and so the sensitivity is – but the audience here was very attentive and benevolent, similar to Japan’s. They are ready to share something in communion with artists.”