The Lakeland Sinfonia's concert in the Westmorland Hall was an auspicious occasion for Martin Hughes, the orchestra's leader during the last five years. The concert was his last as he has resigned prior to becoming head of strings at Bedford School.

The Sinfonia generally played at the top of their form throughout the evening's predominantly classical programme. A familiar Rossini overture (The Silken Ladder) presented that composer's usual challenges, which were tackled with precision.

Anna Markland, winner of the 1982 BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, gave a memorable interpretation of one of Mozart's more restrained piano concertos (No. 27 in Bb K. 595). Like all modern-day virtuosi, she possesses a wondrous technique - more importantly, though, she truly understands that which makes the music live. Here there were no crude overstated moments instead a relaxed, spacious and assured reading characterised by marvellous dynamic control and the most satisfying at-oneness with her partners. They accompanied sensitively and Simon Wright oversaw the performance with great care.

Fay Sweet (viola), supported by ten accompanying string parts, played Lancaster University-trained composer John Woolrich's Ulysses Awakes, an interestingly scored work inspired by a Monteverdi opera. She showed a refined sense of line and projected the quiet beauty of the piece most attractively.

Beethoven's happy 4th Symphony in B, Op.60 provided a grand finale a full-bloodied orchestral piece illuminated by energy and virtuosity in the quicker movements together with delicacy and charm in the touchingly beautiful slow movement. It was an appropriate farewell for Martin Hughes. BVP.

April 10, 2003 10:31