Internationally-renowned pianist Joanna MacGregor gave a new Norwich concert series a sparkling start, says Frank Cliff.

It was a splendid idea to invite the now internationally-renowned pianist Joanna MacGregor to begin the new series of lunchtime concerts in the Assembly House, for it was here in 1988 that she gave one of her first recitals.

A well-contrasted programme demonstrated the versatility of her playing, begining with three dances by the Argentinian composer, Alberto Ginastera, in which she conveyed all the rich colour and incisive rhythms of this highly-enjoyable music.

To six of Chopin's mazurkas, ranging from Opus 6 to Opus 59, she brought sensitive and admirably controlled playing, then, finally, a superb performance of Beethoven's Sonata in F minor Opus 57, the Appassionata, her range of colour conveying perfectly the work's dramatic power as well as its warm lyricism.

A brilliant begining to this new venture.