A dream come true for Mihai Ritivoiu performing at the Reform Club the venue used by Jules Verne in his novel “Around the World in 80 days”.His grandmother used to read the book to him and he often used to wonder what a ” Gentleman’s Club ” would look like. So now he knows and also knows what a great venue the library is for his refined piano playing. Schuberts great C minor Sonata played with all the intellectual rigour allied to a sure sense of structure allowed the many sublime moments to be appreciated without sentimentality but with real noble sentiment. Rigoletto Paraphrase at just the right pace and in the right place for the ball. Mozart ‘s Sonata opened this pre lunchtime programme played with all the intelligence and sensitivity that one would expect from a student of Joan Havill. The concert was for the Beethoven Gold Medal Prize Winner…..and it would have been a real treat to have some Beethoven from this very fine player……but time is very precious at the Reform Club ~there is a country to govern ~so fingers crossed that there might be a repeat performance in the not too distant future.