Freddy Kempf Sinfonia Classica Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple Review: John Harvey

NONE of us needed any persuasion to turn out for pianist Freddy Kempf, but this time he came with an added delight in the form of violinist Katja Lämmermann.

What a performance of Mendelssohn's Concerto for Violin and Piano in D Minor they gave us. Indeed I, and those around me, were enthralled. I would have gladly just attended to hear the beautiful Adagio passage. This was a triumph for two sublimely gifted young artists.

Added to this, throughout the concert, we had the special sound of a favourite string orchestra, Sinfonia Classica. This time they were under the baton of Zoltan Tuska who persuaded an especially delightful Holberg Suite from them.

Bringing the evening to a close was a similarly attractive Serenade for Strings in E Major, Op.22 by Dvorak.

At the risk of being too effusive — it doesn't come better than this. A splendid evening.