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DESCRIBED as “one of the leading pianists of Lithuania’s new generation”, Ugnius Pauliukonis (pictured) - who graduated with distinction from Manchester’s RNCM in 2018 - gave full credence to that tag in his recital on 10 January at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor.

Opening with a Haydn sonata in E flat major (a favourite of his current teacher Andrew Wilde, himself in the past a formidable recitalist at this venue), Ugnius established from the outset his delicacy of touch and clear grasp of musical structure; the piece’s concluding presto stole in with a sense of inevitability, as if the music was by now playing itself.

Fire and water were highlighted as key themes, most explicitly in Debussy’s Feux d’Artifice (from 1913, evoking fireworks over Paris) and Reflets dans l’Eau (1905, light glimmering on the water’s surface), the impressionistic effects all beautifully achieved.

The remainder of the programme was devoted to Chopin.

Despite his virtuosity Chopin is well known for having avoided large venues, preferring instead to give small recitals in private salons.

Across a range of genres and pieces - a ballade, two études, two nocturnes, a scherzo, two mazurkas and the so-called ‘heroic’ polonaise Ugnius Pauliukonis drew in his listeners to such an extent that it was not hard to imagine oneself present at one of Chopin’s original recitals, or perhaps eavesdropping as he improvised in the ground-floor room at George Sand’s Nohant chateau south of Paris.

Here in 1842 the wonderful Ballade No 4 in F sharp minor was created, Ugnius’ first Chopin piece: its nostalgic themes engaged from the very first phrase.

Each genre was fully characterised, not least in the poetry of the two nocturnes.

Bravura conclusions (in the Ballade or the Etude Op 10 No 12) delivered amply in terms of drama and flair. The concluding Heroice Polonaise Op 53 did so in abundance, at which the audience responded accordingly and showed its great satisfaction overall.

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