SIR,

I never cease to wonder at the ability of the Wye Valley Music to attract brilliant musicians, who are in national demand, to come and play in St Briavels Church.

Concert pianist and chamber musician Alexander Soares normally plays in the Royal Festival Hall, The Purcell Rooms, The Barbican, the Wigmore Hall and the Bridgewater Hall Manchester.

On Saturday 21st February Alexander Soares gave one of the most perfect piano recitals one is ever likely to attend, anywhere. The music he chose ranged from lesser-known French 17th century composers of unmeasured preludes, through the Baroque era with Rameau, Mozart and Beethoven, and on to Chopin, Debussy and Liszt, with an encore from a sonata by Bartok. It was a feast, a veritable feast.

Soares didn't speak to the audience at all with words, but he spoke to us all, from the depths of his creative being, through his interpretation of these unmeasured preludes.

The Mozart Rondo brought us back to conventional rhythms, but played here with such empathy for Mozart's angst and sighs.

He then moved on to the Beethoven Sonata written for his dear friend Archduke Rudolf to portray the emotions of parting, absence and reunion of two friends. The composer had described it as "written from the heart", and Soares's performance was played from the heart.

Then on to Chopin Mazurkas, and still with no sign of sheet music, demonstrating the phenomenal memory for which this young pianist is famed. He is currently completing a PhD at the Guildhall School of Music, the subject of which is how performers memorise modern music. His own brain must be part of the research field.

The Liszt Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude is a meditation upon religious faith, which is at once peaceful and ecstatic, both pure and sensual.

It is one of Liszt's most important masterpieces, and is said to be a final revelation of a profound truth. As one who has no religious faith, I nevertheless experienced the peace and the ecstasy. From a humanist perspective it came from the beauty of the music, the brilliance of Liszt, and the pianism of this young genius. It was for me a realisation of faith in humanity. I left suffused with gratitude: to Liszt, to Alexander Soares, and to Wye Valley Music for bringing them to St Briavels.

Judy Craven

(Hewelsfield)