PIANIST Sitong Meng changed her published programme slightly by adding pieces by Stravinsky to celebrate completing studies for her BMus degree the day before her Stokesley college.

She began with Beethoven's Sonata no 23, op.57. The 22-year-old's sensitivity and controlled emotion in the slow movement demonstrated why the work is known as the Appassionata before she led us to its heroic finale.

Robert Schumann wrote his Fantasie in C major, op.17, while his life was overshadowed, having been rejected as a suitor by the father of his beloved Clara Wieck. He described the work as "perhaps the most impassioned I have ever written".

Meng obviously thrives on emotions, drawing out the full measure of Schumann's passion in the first movement. Perhaps wisely, she omitted the second movement, a virtuoso piece. "I thought the audience may need a mental break before I played the Stravinsky a few minutes later," she explained before playing the slow final movement with delicacy and tenderness.

The opening fireworks of Stravinsky's Petrouchka brought the audience to the edge of their seats. Written for Diaghilev's Ballet Russe a little over 100 years ago, it is yet another story of frustrated love and passion.

Meng's performance drew out all the imagery of the ballet scenes. From her body language it was obvious that she thoroughly enjoyed playing the piece. Her recital ended with the first movement of Bartok's Suite, op.14.

In the autumn, Meng returns to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester to embark on a master's degree. We look forward to hearing her again.

The Classical Cleveland concert series ends with the nine-year-old Chinese piano prodigy Leo Bailey-Yang at Redcar's Tuned In Centre on Wednesday lunch time, July 12. Bailey-Yang was recently seen on ITV in Dawn French's Little Big Shots, a showcase for talented youngsters. Tickets cost £7.

Peter Sotheran