Middlewich and District Concerts Society – April Concert in Middlewich -by David Hawkes Middlewich and District Concerts Society welcomed James Willshire.

He started with a Prelude and Fugue by Bach followed Beethoven's piano sonata, Opus 110. The first half ended with Debussy's "Estampes", impressionistic pieces, depicting Pagodas, an evening in Grenada and gardens in the rain.

After the interval there were three dances by Chopin, a polonaise, a mazurka and a waltz. The polonaise in particular was a Fantaisie (Opus 61), lengthy and complex. Busoni's reworking of the Chaconne from one of Bach's violin partitas was absolutely stunning. For an encore James turned to one of his favourite composers, Rory Boyle, and played "Berceuse for Bertie" from "Comings and Goings". Another fantastic evening of music making.

The next concert will be a violin and piano recital given by Sophie Rosa and Nicholas Oliver in the Drama Studio of Middlewich High School, which is on the junction of King Edward Street and St. Anne's Walk, Middlewich, (CW10 9BU), on Saturday, May 16, at 7.30 p.m.

For further details visit www.madcs.org.uk or contact Roger Evans on 01606 834471.