Like many local music lovers, I eagerly look forward to Stefan Cassar's appearances in Malta. During his current visit to his homeland, he gave a recital which left a deeply impressive mark. Growing ever more in maturity, he has enhanced his several positive qualities. He remains assertive, tempestuous where necessary, but never out of control, and these traits are tempered with a depth of sensitivity that made for an all-round highly enjoyable and satisfactory recital.

Beginning the recital with Handel's charming Suite No 3 in D minor HWV 428 was a good choice and a finely balanced programme. He blended well a work conceived in baroque terms but projected by means that provide more possibilities and sonorities than its composer dreamt of. With Beethoven's Appassionata, there was a truly underlying sense of greatness and tragedy. It lurked below the surface even in the comparatively brief andante con moto. The onward surge and grandiose sweep of the music hardly ever lost in clarity, and the dramatic nature so ably projected showed how much in command the performer was.

Mr Cassar's affinity with French music was well displayed with his foray in the so very different sound world of Debussy's L'Isle Joyeuse. He performed this with almost fastidious elegance and great sense of style. Stylishly convincing was the next piece, Chopin's Ballade No 1 in G minor, Op.23. Superbly romantic, warm and tense, lyrical and fluid, limpid in tone and combining great technical prowess and musicality, it paved the way for the great tour de force which is Liszt's Après une Lecture de Dante - Fantasia quasi sonata. This was a powerful rendering, almost overwhelming. The pianist's brilliant virtuosity and his well-shaped, successful projection must have been as draining as they were satisfying.

AGS