This recital, just before the PLG Young Musicians series comes round again, was a welcome further opportunity to hear Hiroaki Takenouchi, and in wider repertoire. In a Bach Toccata he confirmed first impressions that he is a thoughtful musician with enviable technical facility, and he gave impressive accounts of Janacek and Ravel (Gaspard played in tempo for a change) in a well balanced programme.

He also coped well in St James, Piccadilly, as difficult a venue as the Purcell Room, for opposite reasons - it is over-resonant and the sound has a peculiar tendency to bounce around and distort piano tone, plus intrusive traffic noise from either side - a reminder of the dearth of good, affordable regular recital venues in the Capital.

Soon to be released is Takenouchi's CD recording of Edwin Roxburgh’s Six Etudes and Jeremy Dale Roberts’ Oggetti – Omaggio a Morandi, which will be reviewed by Musical Pointers.

Next at Wigmore Hall?

See CD review: http://www.musicalpointers.co.uk/reviews/cddvd/EdwinRoxburgh.htm

See also "Only a Website" - - The Times was unable to cover this pianist's London re-appearance; Musical Pointers was there!