Saturday, November 18 last saw a good audience in the Parish Church who were treated to some excellent playing by two young artists, as part of the Sidmouth Music series of concerts.

Sponsored by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Hannah Condliffe and Mark Rogers presented a fascinating and diverse programme for piano and oboe. They ranged from Saint-Saëns and Debussy (a selection of his preludes provided a solo platform for Mark Rogers, executed very tastefully) via Coleridge-Taylor in a very effective transcription to the duo’s format of his ’Deep River’ spiritual, and onto the 20th Century with quirky and entertaining miniatures from Britten and the closing sonata from Francis Poulenc. This was his incomparable 1962 tribute to Sergei Prokofiev, who had died only nine years earlier. Hannah excelled in delivering this soulful and moving piece. Very enthusiastic applause was rewarded with a jazzy encore from Jeffrey Agrell, ‘Blues for DD’, a lively closer to a fine performance.

The Music continues in short order with another concert in the series at 3pm on Saturday, December 2, with a revisit to Sidmouth by another duo who were very warmly received on their first visit in 2016. Ugne Tiskute (viola) and Alexandra Vaduva (piano) will play Schumann, York Bowen and Prokofiev. Schumann’s Adagio and Allegro op 70 was originally written for horn and piano but with alternative arrangements for a string solo instrument, and is Schumann in very romantic mood. His Märchenbilder or Fairy Tale Pictures is four short images in music, a form in which Schumann excelled. Edwin York Bowen featured in this duo’s first visit, and this time his sonata for viola no 1 will be their chosen piece. Written in 1905, it was first performed by Bowen himself accompanying Lionel Tertis, no less. The programme will close on five pieces from Prokofiev’s well-known suite from Romeo and Juliet transcribed for viola and piano.

Tickets are available online through www.SidmouthMusic.org.uk, and through Paragon Books in the High Street, or on the door. Enquiries can be made to 01395 597454.