The recital of violinist and University professor Michael Heald and pianist Timothy Lovelace was, indeed, a showcase — displaying their eager dedication, close collaboration and innate talent.

Michael Heald prepares to play the piece "Night Visions" alongside pianist Timothy Lovelace. The pair led and supported each other throughout the night. SEAN TAYLOR/Staff

“Night Visions” was a most outstanding and innovative work, even though the performers only had two days to rehearse a completely new piece, written by another University faculty member, Leonard “Chic” V. Ball.

But even with only a few days’ time, Heald and Lovelace performed the piece as if it was as familiar to them as any other, with Heald announcing its premiere in this state.

He instructed audience members to listen and notice the feelings they had in response to the music.

I closed my eyes. Moments of brief, reflective pause punctuated a larger background of obsessive anticipation and fear, similar to the music in a Hitchcock film. As soon as it relaxed, the piece teemed with uneasiness that exploded in a furious cascade on the piano and violin — a musical fight-or-flight.

At its conclusion, applause erupted, praising Heald, Lovelace and Ball, who stood up with hand extended to Heald and Lovelace.

Pieces by Schumann and Elgar came up during the night as well, and were two more captivating pieces — not complementing “Night Visions,” but beautiful nonetheless.

Schumann’s work allowed the piano and violin to shine equally, though each part sounded different. It was so easy to focus on one, yet they were in perfect harmony to represent Schumann’s work as a consistent and melodious whole. Its dramatic verve prepared the audience to hear “Night Visions.”

Elgar’s pieces were charming and sweet in their simplicity. As Heald and Lovelace transitioned from “Chanson de matin” to “Chanson de nuit,” they briefly smiled at one another: “Ready.”

They played in conversation to one another without overpowering or bettering the other, a moment that demonstrated a larger truth of the evening: that Heald and Lovelace’s recital showed a collaboration not only within the University as they premiered Ball’s “Night Visions,” but also as musicians in every piece.