VITALY Pisarenko is quite simply a remarkable pianist. His engagement and insight throughout illuminated the whole programme, his touch and phrasing were impeccable and his ability to tell the whole musical story, his innate grasp of the structure, left little to be desired.

However, I would question his choice of programme. Schubert’s Drei Klavierstücke seemed to last for ever. To be sure, the Allegretto was gorgeous, but all those repeats? Partial redemption did appear in the final Allegro with its syncopated energy, but as a musical experience this wasn’t enough.

The youthful Ten Pieces by Prokofiev provided some welcome contrast: Pisarenko clearly relishing the sheer vitality and humour of these student works, signalling the musical greatness to come.

Far more rewarding was the second half. Here Pisarenko’s artistry was married to truly wonderful piano music. I loved the sheer intimacy of the 12 German Dances; the performance was just beautiful. As was the opening Lent in Debussy’s Images oubliées. The tone colour delivered by Pisarenko was like musical chocolate, so sumptuous and seductive (if you like chocolate, that is…). The final movement bristled with toccatic energy. Highly enjoyable.

The concert ended with Chopin’s extraordinary Scherzos 1 and 2. Vitaly Pisarenko’s technical brilliance was once more called into action for the first and extremely demanding Scherzo. No problem, obviously, but the virtuoso passages, of which there were many, were always bedded into the work itself. So too the famous Scherzo No 2; the central song was simply sublime.