THAT Scottish-born pianist Steven Osborne is quite simply one of the finest currently performing in the UK – if not Europe and world-wide – is in very little doubt.

And certainly for those of us lucky enough to join the audience for The Milverton Concert Society’s latest live classical concert in St Michael’s Parish Church, there would be no dispute at all. In fact, many of us who have long been associated with the thriving community-based society, agreed it was one of the best in all our 32-year history.

The artist’s whole recital was captivatingly seat-edge stuff right from the opening notes of Poulenc’s Trois Novelettes, through Debussy’s Images Book 2 and Prokofiev’s 7th Piano Sonata, until the close of the poignantly romantic B flat Sonata by Schubert – the one which comprises that longingly repeated four-note figure which seems to say Ich liebe dich.. – simply brought down the house in a rippling cascade of applause and vocal plaudits lasting several minutes. The pianist is visibly at the top of his game and was utterly in command not only of the society’s proudly owned Yamaha grand piano – which stood-up remarkably well to the pounding it took in the Prokofiev! – but also his spell-bound audience with whom, despite his world-wide reputation, he displayed great rapport and took delight in sharing his considerable performance insight as well as more personal anecdotes and the odd joke!

All in all, the whole performance proved to be a night to remember for Milverton folk as well as those from farther afield, and will surely whet the appetite for three more live classical concerts to be presented in spring 2019.

In February we shall be hosting The Vision String Quartet from Berlin, followed by flute and piano duo Adam Walker and James Baillieu in March. And in early May we have our Young Musician’s Platform when we shall be welcoming back Julia Hwang – violin – and Weng Soon Tee – piano – as well as other budding local singers and instrumentalists.

All details can be found at www.milvertonconcerts.org or in our orange/teal printed programme leaflets.

Jo Worth