OUTSTANDING musicians on the edge of exciting careers are becoming regular features of the Radlett Music Club s programme. And few could doubt that Russian-born pianist, Yevgeny Sudbin, who made a return visit to the club last week, is going anywhere but

OUTSTANDING musicians on the edge of exciting careers are becoming regular features of the Radlett Music Club's programme.

And few could doubt that Russian-born pianist, Yevgeny Sudbin, who made a return visit to the club last week, is going anywhere but up in the international ratings.

Unlike last year when he gave a solo performance, Yevgeny was joined for this year's concert by outstanding young cellist Alexander Chaushian for an evening of music by Borodin, Rachmaninov, Faur� and C�sar Franck.

The first half of the concert at The Radlett Centre opened with Borodin's tuneful Sonata for Cello and Piano in B minor, a work which immediately demonstrated the fine definition of playing achieved by both artists.

Less well known than some of his other works, the sonata makes more than a passing reference to JS Bach and Alexander Chaushian proved to his audience that there was more fine playing to come in the second movement cadenza.

Rachmaninov's Cello Sonata in G minor is a far deeper, almost darker, piece of music which made more demands on the two musicians, yet still failed to fully explore their virtuosity. That was left to the second half which opened with Faur�'s :l�gie for Cello and Piano in C minor, a stunning work which was originally destined to be the first movement of a sonata.

An outstanding performance by the two musicians left one wondering just how fine the sonata would have been if it had been completed.

But the best had been left to last as far as I was concerned for the final work of the evening, Franck's Sonata in A for Cello and Piano, was the piece that really demonstrated the great ability of the musicians .

In section after section the duo demonstrated fine technique and understanding of the music as well as maintaining the excellent balance they had exhibited throughout the evening.

Both performers demonstrated fine emotional responses to the piece which was a fitting end to an outstanding evening of music.

The only blot was a ringing mobile phone part way through the Franck sonata. It did not quite ruin the performance but for a short time, it certainly broke the spell.

JOHN MANNING