Coffee Concert

RICHARD PARR

King's Lynn Town Hall (King's Lynn Festival)

This was a delightful performance by three charming, award-winning young musicians.

Adam Walker taught himself to play the flute at the age of nine and is currently a student at the Royal Academy of Music. At only 14, Adam was the youngest ever winner of the British Flute Society competition.

For many among the capacity audience on Thursday, Adam's performance of Debussy's Syrinx was a highlight of this concert.

His black clad, slight, figure playing his flute was reflected in one of the room's elegant large gilt-framed mirrors. It was an enchanting performance recreating what is widely considered one of Debussy's most evocative and atmospheric pieces ever written. The composition is the delicate and expressive death song of Pan, the Greek God of pasture, flocks and shepherds.

The programme included Arnold's Fantasy for Harps and Sally Pryce, a finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, gave a masterful performance bringing out the original score's melody and sheer beauty.

Her performance was a fitting tribute to its composer, Sir Malcolm Arnold, a long-standing vice president of Lynn Festival who always encouraged young musicians in their performance.

The concert concluded with a second Debussy work, Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp. In its three movements it ably demonstrated the individual talent of these outstanding young musicians. The work featured the skilful viola playing of Reiad Chibah.

There is no doubt they are all destined to enjoy glittering careers in the world of classical music performance.