ALISON CROOSE Rising star Nicola Loud came to Norfolk at short notice, stepping in after Xue Wei had to pull out because of injuries sustained in a car accident.

ALISON CROOSE

It's an ill wind, as they say, which brought rising star Nicola Loud to Norfolk where the young violinist impressed with a spirited performance at King's Lynn Corn Exchange.

She stepped in at short notice when Xue Wei had to pull out because of injuries sustained in a car accident.

Nicola Loud, who became BBC Young Musician of the Year when she was only 15, is enjoying an exciting career which will see her return for this summer's King's Lynn Festival.

The orchestra, as ever in the very sure hands of musical director James Stobart, opened with Elgar's Overture Cockaigne before Nicola Loud captivated the large and appreciative audience with her artistry in Bruch's Violin Concerto. From the opening flourish from the solo violin to the energetic finale she gave an exciting interpretation of the familiar and cherished work.

Bruck's romantic melodies were a relaxing prelude to the rigours of Shostakovich's First Symphony, the product of another burgeoning talent. The composer was only 18 when he wrote the work.

It proved to be a blueprint for ideas repeated throughout his music which is demanding both for musicians and audience. The technicalities of the dramatic piece were sensitively controlled by James Stobart to produce a memorable performance.