Evangelos Nikolaidis, St Oswald's Church, Sowerby

IT was that Sunday when snow fell on North Yorkshire.

All was wintry and cold outside, but once through the magic curtain of St Oswald’s Church in Sowerby, we entered a world full of the warmth and languor of the South.

What other instrument can summon up sunshine, passion and romance like the guitar, especially in the hands of such an expert exponent as Evangelos Nikolaidis?

He played a variety of rhythms and styles on this, perhaps most listener-friendly of instruments, ranging from the languid richness of Southern Europe and Latin America to a Viennese waltz, also capturing the measure of the latter very effectively.

In El Choclo particularly, he demonstrated the variety of possible tone and colour from something we would recognise as one of those melodies that enjoy a second life as the tune of a popular song (Kiss of Fire).

After the interval we enjoyed a demonstration of the bouzouki – the national instrument of Greece. Accompanying himself in a song, Nickolaidis also explained some traditional Greek dances, in which only men participate.

The church was well filled on a cold, wet day and a very warm welcome was extended to this multi-talented and highly qualified guitarist, also currently conducting, teaching and running music therapy sessions in Cardiff.

Sowerby Music’s next event is on Sunday, February 15; tickets from 01845 518001 or White Rose Book Café, Thirsk.

Irene MacDonald