Asked to do a 'crit' of Noriko Ogawa's piano recital on Wednesday last at St. Mary's Church, Tenby, all I can produce is an 'admiration'. A prize winner in the 1987 Leeds Piano Competition, she is now so highly thought of as to be an adjudicator in the Young Musician of the Year Competition and broadcasts regularly with the BBC as recitalist and as a soloist with the leading orchestras in this country. She charmingly introduced each item she played, even giving historical, biographical and often witty observations. The first item was an early sonata by Mozart K281, and this was followed by a selection of works by Debussy. The first Arabesque, Claire de Lune and the Gollywog's Cake Walk. I hope political correctness will not force publishers to rename this piece; it is full of humour, even with a dig at Wagner with its quotation from Tristan and Isolde. This was followed by Book 1 of his Images. Noriko Ogawa has already recorded a lot of Debussy's works, gaining rave reviews in the 'Piano' and the 'Gramophone'. The record company Bis has wisely engaged her to record the complete piano music of this composer. Following the interval we were treated to what I consider the best performance of Chopin's Second Piano Sonata that I have heard. The sombre third movement with its well known funeral march was followed by an astonishing final movement played at such a speed that where other speedy pianists can turn it into a mush of sound, she managed to make each and every note stand out. Next were two of Chopin's waltzes, the 'Minute Waltz' Op. 64 No.1 and the later Op. 69 No.2. The final work on the programme was Chopin's Scherzo No.2 Op. 31. This was so beautifully played that the applause from this enthralled audience clearly indicated to her that she would not be allowed to go without an encore. This was a piece by Ravel entitled 'Oiseaux triste' from Miriors (1905). In the programme notes it was stated that she had achieved considerable success in Europe, America and in her native Japan where she is a national celebrity. Now we in Tenby know why. Without wishing in any way to denigrate any of the fine soloists that we have had the privilege of hearing since the festival began, I think that this lady has been the most talented and I am sure the most greatly appreciated pianist we've had. I marvelled at the power which emanated from such a petite young lady: get her again, please.

A.R.M.