Freddy Kempf

King's Lynn Corn Exchange (King's Lynn Festival)

Former BBC Young Musician of the year Freddy Kempf returned to King's Lynn on full form in Thursday night's performance at the Corn Exchange.

And it is nice to know that one man can virtually fill out the venue - and if any man can it is Freddy Kempf, a favourite here after previous visits to the festival. Simply tinkling on the old ivories is certainly not his way.

He both thumped and tiptoed and everything in-between through this enthralling recital offering less well-known pieces by piano composer favourites.

In a switch of the line-up, Schumann's Etudes Symphoniques Op.13, a set of 12 variations, came first before an interval and then Chopin's Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, Op.35.

Kempf's performance was at the same time measured and movingly persuasive.

And his performance was riveting to watch as he lunged his whole body into the piano in heavier passages, mostly so at the end of his final piece, Rachmaninov's Piano Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, Op.36, which raised some members of the audience off their seats.

He was clapped and drummed back on stage four times before he offered an encore, the delightful slow movement of Beethoven's Pathetique. A beautifully played piece perfect to go home to, although many would have happily stayed for more.