FRANK CLIFF Norfolk and Norwich Festival event at the John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park

FRANK CLIFF

Highly contrasted and wonderfully crafted, Schoenberg's Six Little Pieces formed a perfect prelude to the main work of the first half of last night's recital. And after performing them with scarcely a pause, Imogen Cooper began what was to be a magnificent reading of Schubert's D Major Sonata, D850.

She possesses virtuosity and musicianship in equal measure; qualities which the Schubert admirably demonstrated and were further evidenced in her eclectic choice of works in the second half. Two pieces by Satie, his quirkily titled Gnossienne No.1 and Gymnopedie No 1, the second of these especially beautiful, flanked two studies of Jeux d'Eau virtuoso pieces by Ravel and Liszt and, on either side of this group, two great romantic pieces: the Ballades in F minor and G minor of Chopin.