TWO international artistes David Campbell (clarinet) and Julius Drake (piano), of outstanding ability, combined to give a thrilling recital. Their choice of music was wide-ranging from seriously classical to amusing.

From the first notes of Malcolm Arnold's Sonatina it was obvious the performers were very well matched, always complementing one another: they were thinking as one, and their phrasing and expressiveness concurred totally.

Searle's Cat Variations were based on T S Eliot's Practical Cats: each cat had its character transformed into music. Mistoffelees was characterised by arpeggios and large leaps; Gus the theatre cat swaggered, then grew to an histrionic cadenza.

Pastoral by Bliss proved to be a real gem. With a rhapsodic style piano part, the legato clarinet melody was hauntingly melancholy.

Anthony Powers had composed Sea/Air for solo Clarinet for Campbell in 1987. The clarinet exposed and alone, it seemed to explore every possible sound, and every style of playing that is feasible.

Other works were included by Howells and Hurlstone. The final item Sonatina by Horovitz with a second movement Lento quasi andante displayed a sustained very slow clarinet melody, with particularly lovely progressions of chords from the piano. The Con brio was a syncopated and jazzy finale. The last flourish, concluded this recital of excellence.

JILL HOPKINS