Final concerts today in Asia House for the Music Futures Festival organised by the indomitable Canan Maxton of Talent Unlimited. How many young artists owe a great debt to this generous Turkish promoter of the arts,whose only aim is to support great young talent in those difficult first steps into the professional world.

Once a year she holds a three day festival to augment and publicise her enormous all year round activity. It was only a few days ago that I was invited to her beautiful home in Regents Park to hear the programme of one of her young artists before he flew off to compete in an International Piano Competition in Monza……he is already through to the second round and we have our fingers crossed that he will proceed to the final.Unfortunately this circus act is a very difficult hurdle for truly great talent.And it is thanks to Canan for her support and encouragement that give a base for these young artists in this ever changing world in which they have to compete.

Beautiful lunchtime concert today with two magnificent singers,complimenting each other in the diversity of repertoire,and finally a very fine clarinet duo. First a lieder singer Waimay Yau with Joyce Chiao Yu Wu her partner(for she was just that)at the piano. A great pleasure to hear these songs of Wolf and Liszt sung with such intelligence and perfect diction.I have not heard Liszt`s “Die Drei Zigeuner” since Schwarzkopf`s unforgettable performances with the urbane ,perfect partner in Geoffrey Parsons. This too,today was a splendid partnership with the pianist very much an equal partner especially in the intricate Wolf Lieder. Canon almost ruined the next singers entry for Musetta`s Waltz from La Boheme. Like all true divas the announced Vocalise by Rachmaninoff/Volodos was swiftly substituted by an aria from La Nozze di Figaro. But what a voice form this exceptional young soprano the same quality as Rita Streich and in the Lehar” Meine Lippen sie kussen so heiss” there was the same seductive charm of that much missed singer. The singers’ fine orchestra was YokoMisumi and their perfect ensemble in “O mio babbino caro brought the house down Hard to believe that the perfect duo of Ozlem Celik and Lysianne Chen was a last minute substitute such was their ensemble in Poulenc’s evergreen Sonata that they were beseached to offer an encore to this large and discerning audience.

There was even a swift at the window looking in to see who was producing the enchanting sounds that were keeping us all so enthralled.