Michael Hulmes began with three Spanish pieces by Sanz arranged by Raymond Burley - Villanos, Espanoleta, Pavanas, containing some nicely executed ornamentation. Farewell by Dowland highlighted this player's articulation in voice separation in a quite exquisite performance of one of Dowland's finest hours of melancholy.

Two Cimarosa Sonatas were once again performed with carefully prepared and graceful phrasing. In the week of Rodrigo's death, the inclusion of En Los Trigales made it rather an 'in memoriam' piece. For the first time in the programme, Hulmes brought up the volume a little here and there, and created an impressive and memorable tribute to the great man.

Preludes One, Three and Four concluded the first half, Michael seeming to loose his way here and there, letting a few memory slips obtrude upon the music. However, competently played most of these three pieces were, and his concentration was really lost only momentarily each time, he never really made more of them than an actual 'reading' of the notes.

The second half began with the Four Ballad Stories by Milan Tesar. The first three were well performed, with the lyricism of the beautiful second being projected well. The fourth, marked on the score as Vivo should conclude in bravura style, but instead was taken at more like an Andantino tempo, this ending the suite in a most disappointing fashion.

Barrios came next with Aconquija, Vals No. 3 and Julia Florida, and apart from a few untidy passages in the Vals all were played with competence and grace. Two Spanish Dances from Granados and Usher Vals (where the player at last let rip with the volume) concluded the programme.

Michael is a competent player who talks informatively, and he has the odd amusing anecdote to tell. As he is studying at the time of writing with Fabio Zanon, it will be interesting to see him in a year's time to see how he has matured.

Steve Marsh
Classical Guitar Magazine