Bravura, a string ensemble of a dozen young musicians, was directed from the violin by Janet Masters, their mentor and teacher.

The performers showed technical prowess and sensitivity of interpretation far beyond their years, resulting in the music being conceived clearly and executed beautifully.

The programme, chosen to suit the players ideally, began with Britten's 'Simple' Symphony. The composer's changes of tempi within the movements were achieved well and the character of each was defined appropriately.

Lively first and last movements framed a very expressive 'Playful' Pizzicato, and long singing phrases within 'Sentimental' Saraband where the warm tone of cellos, and fine violin and viola playing against a plucked double bass, made this section stunning.

In Bach's Double Violin Concerto in D minor, Alan Uren and Amelia Jones were the well-matched, excellent soloists. The opening quick movement was given an impetus, which never flagged. The second was superb with slow, exquisite melody intertwined by the soloists, trills placed delicately, against an expressive accompaniment and throbbing bass. In the last sparkling movement, awkward rhythms were negotiated easily and accurately.

Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings produced an emotional see-saw with a full-blooded harmonic intonation at the beginning strengthened by the low strings, through a lilting second part where tenutos and ritenutos were observed unanimously, and a strong conclusion of a unison accelerando.

A first rate concert worthy of a much larger audience. More advertising (costly, of course) was needed.

Jill Hopkins