THIS was one of a series of recitals across the North-East organised by Master Musicians which not only gives performance opportunities to both young and experienced musicians but also helps provide or broaden a classical strand in a number of arts venues such as the Arc.

This latest tour, the last for this season, was by the Japanese pianist Mami Shikimori who graduated with honours from the Royal College of Music in London before continuing her studies in California.

She has performed widely in Japan, America and the UK, including such venues as Carnegie Hall and the Wigmore Hall, so I looked forward to this early afternoon recital.

I was sorry not to hear Beethoven’s Appassionata Sonata as advertised, but this had to be dropped from the shorter daytime concerts.

She opened however with Mozart’s delightful Rondo in A minor, K511, displaying a beautiful light touch but bringing out its occasional sorrowful and haunting mood.

The remaining programme consisted of Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Op. 24, completed during a grim winter stay at Valldemosa in Majorca.

Despite this, there is a wide variety of moods in these atmospheric miniatures which I thought Miss Shikimori captured perfectly.

These ranged from, say, the lightness and clarity of No. 3 and the warmth and allure of No. 12 to the insistent but articulate No. 15 and the angry No. 22, but all 24 received a convincing interpretation.

As an encore she added the entirely appropriate Prelude in C sharp minor, Op. 45.

Peter Bevan