The Musical Midsummer Miscellany at St Nicholas' Church, North Walsham, was an evening of musical maturity and youthful promise.

By JOYCE HARMER

The Musical Midsummer Miscellany at St Nicholas' Church, North Walsham, was an evening of musical maturity with husband-and-wife pianists Peter Cooper and Margery Baker, and youthful promise by flautists Rebecca Anderson and Rachel Moore and pianist and accompanist Shona Elliott – all students at the Royal Holloway College, University of London.

They already display tremendous skill, as does cellist Andrew Joyce who is studying at the Royal College of Music. All are aged under 20.

Margery and Peter opened the programme with Schubert's Fantasia in F Minor, the melodies running like a river.

In Variations On A Theme by Rossini Rebecca played with delightful phrasing and wonderful dexterity, while Nocturne in Eb Major by Shona produced lyrical playing.

Romance – Opus 37 by Rachel and Shona was rich and reflective – almost dreamy.

Rebecca's operatic solo “Oh! Mio Babbino Caro” accompanied by Shona, made one envious of these young people's talents. Her light, bright voice was so refreshing after the heavy performances of previous concerts.

Andrew's Sonata in D Major, played on his new instrument made by Sylvie and James Fawcett in Suffolk, displayed the wide range of tonal quality of the cello. The adagio was most appealing but the most exciting playing was in the allegro and menuet movements.

After the interval a flute duet by Rebecca and Rachel, Souvenir de Prague Opus 24, showed a very strong sense of togetherness.

The finale by Margery and Peter was a duet of impromptu variations on I Got Rhythm by Gershwin.

A delightful ending to a wonderful evening.