10 years ago I attended the post Leeds Piano Competition event in which finalists gave a short recital in the University Hall. I felt that Anna Tsybuleva, the winner, was underwhelming owing to exhaustion after the event. Move on 10 years to last week when I heard her play at Chetham's Piano Summer School. What an amazing transformation. I tend to shun excessive movements by musicians (Richter in Newcastle in 1971 - totally static playing Bach) but this pianist knows how to make an entrance and use movement to signal what is happening in the music. She must surely have had lessons in theatre/drama. Interestingly at our Club in Rhyl we have just put on a narration with piano about Liszt and he was an early inventor of the dramatic stage style along with other innovations. On this occasion we had Rachmaninov and Debussy and what a remarkable concert. No rushing the Rachmaninov and so much breathing space (probably very little but she made it seem a lot). This pianist compels the audience to concentrate by her presence and musicality. Have I heard Feu d'artifice better? - dont think so. Two evenings of delight with very different pianists in Joanna McGregor and Anna Tsybuleva, both providing evenings to last one for years to come. Here is how, as a non musician, I would describe the latter's performance - a carefully and skilfully cut diamond. Diamonds take immense preparation and planning and that described Ms Tsybuleva's performance. Thanks to Chets for these two wonderful events. Stephen Leeder (fb)

I want to write about 2 specific concerts which were real knockouts. I am so fortunate to have been at these two and will live off them for many years. First its Joanna McGregor who is Head of Piano at the Academy. I wrote to her about 3 years ago complimenting her Department on the production of a pianist with the highest degree marks but who we attracted to Rhyl - Harry Rylance. I had previously heard Joanna once live and that was ?30 years ago in Bath. First we had a 20 minute lecture then 15 minutes later the recital (one of those where prior toilet use is advised) Messiaen's Vingt Regards sur l'enfant-Jesus. Memorable all these years later. Her recital at Chets started with Philip Glass and Rameau ( we have included Rameau in our own concerts) and finished with Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. Staggeringly impressive technical playing but such a human performance. I have now heard her live twice and both concerts confirm that she is a world class pianist and that is in addition to her main day job - I wonder if she would like to return to Rhyl? I do hope so. (fb)