Daniel Shao (flute) & Daniel King-Smith (piano)

Our February concert was full of good things from flautist Daniel Shao and his accompanist Daniel King-Smith. An assured and gripping performance brought us some of the greatest flute music, opening with a Bach Sonata and followed by a complete contrast, Bartok’s vibrant Hungarian Peasant Suite . Lensky’s Aria (Tchaikowsky) had all the singing cantabile required and Hamilton Harty’s ‘In Ireland’ came across with compelling Irish charm. Poulenc’s great Flute Sonata was performed with tremendous dynamic contrasts and a magnificently fast final movement. More beauty and charm came with Schubert and Gluck and then Prokofiev’s Flute Sonata had all the fire and excitement needed to bring the evening to a powerful and brilliant close.