A DAZZLING musical double act is playing at Appleby Public Hall as one of four farewell concerts over the next two months.

Guitarist Richard Durrant and keyboard maestro Howard Beach first played together 25 years ago.

Beach’s imminent retirement from the music business has triggered this short series of recitals to promote the pair's first, and only, album together.

In July, the duo recorded a collection of their own arrangements of Vivaldi and Bach works, with Julian Bream’s arrangement of Boccherini’s Fandango thrown in for good measure.

The album Richard Durrant & Howard Beach - Guitar & Harpsichord is a virtuosic, fiery, classical offering.

Over many years, Beach has stalked fragrance counters all over the world to satisfy his passion for perfume and now he will be managing a new perfume boutique at the end of September.

Beach says of his retirement from music: “What was my passion is now my profession and what was my profession is now my passion.”

The pair perform at Appleby Public Hall on November 16.