Lakeland Sinfonia Concert Society, Westmorland Hall, Kendal

The Lakeland Sinfonia Concert Society has, for many seasons now, invited the European Union Chamber Orchestra to electrify its admirers with performances of exceptional quality.

Its recent visit, under the direction of Gergely Kuklis, merely confirmed the fact that the orchestra - a hand-picked team of the cream of Europe’s finest young professional players - will always exhibit the highest possible levels of musicianship.

During their programme of works for strings alone there were constant reminders of the attention given to the refinements of phrasing, the vivid palette of tonal colours, the minutiae of dynamic contrasts and stylistic authenticity. Every bar exuded excitement, beauty, wonder and admiration.

Tasmin Little, playing on her Guadagnini violin, was inspirational and at the heart of an exquisite reading of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Virtuosity, splendid characterisation and stunning ensemble unanimity were inevitably present throughout, as indeed, they were in the lovingly-presented Romance in C by Sibelius, Grieg’s beautifully-scored Holberg Suite and Bartók’s colourful Rumanian Dances.

An energetic replay of Bartók’s Stick Dance and embraces and handshakes all round signified the end of a memorable concert.

By Brian Paynes.