IT would not be possible to attend a better piano recital than we were treated to on Sunday afternoon, when we heard the "dream" programme played superbly.

Mark, who is one of the most talented pianists I have ever had the privilege to hear, not only plays the music - he feels the music. And rarely will you hear three such taxing pieces played with so much emotion.

Every note is distinct, no matter how fast - and each of the pieces contained movements so fast I couldn't begin to move my fingers at that speed, let alone play the right notes! And, as always, Mark makes the transition from exciting and loud passages, to the quiet and gentle sections, so smoothly.

It was the first time I had heard Mark play Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata, and I have never heard the dreamy second movement played so sensitively.

As I have said in reviews before, no-one plays Appassionata better than Mark - I never tire of hearing him play what is possibly the most technically demanding of all Beethoven's sonatas. He brings out all the emotion of this work, and I always feel particularly uplifted at the breathless ending to the first movement.

The second half of the recital comprised the wonderful, multi-faceted Liszt B Minor Sonata, a tour de force for any pianist, with its combination of recurring themes, poignant melodies and exhilarating passages. This was 25 minutes of pure joy.

To the delight of the audience, Mark gave us an encore, of Liszt's Concert Paraphrase of Rigoletto.

This wonderful performance underlined why Mark's international reputation is growing fast.

VJS