Duo Transatlantique set off some good vibrations at the start of their UK Autumn tour in Kidderminster on Friday September 24th. This classical guitar duo may come from different countries – France and America – but they gave a faultless display of ensemble work.

Maud Laforest and Benjamin Biers began the programme with Jongo, a modern Brazilian work that was exciting and surprisingly lyrical. The middle section was scored for percussion and Benjamin in particular slapped and beat his guitar with great enthusiasm. It was amazing how many different sounds could be produced in this fashion.

In complete contrast, the following item was in the late classical style – a Duo Concertante by de L’Hoyer that sounded like the sort of work that Mozart might have written for the instruments.

Selections from Amelie were very atmospheric with the players expertly exchanging the solo passages and accompaniment. This could only have been from a French film soundtrack with the music very redolent of the original accordion sounds.

Domenico Scarlatti wrote music for the harpsichord but guitar arrangements are particularly effective and the melodic threads of the two Sonatas played were interwoven to great effect. The two young professionals also demonstrated their expertise with an excellent account of an organ work transcription - Franck’s Prelude, Fugue and Variation.

The programme ended with the music of Scott Joplin including a swaggering version of his Maple Leaf Rag.

Showing a full appreciation of a wonderful programme, the audience were rewarded with two encores. Firstly, we heard the stirring Spanish sounds of The Miller’s Dance by de Falla and then the dreamy Claire de Lune by Debussy.

This was the third concert in the new series of Music From The Gallery that has brought a new dimension to the classical music scene in Kidderminster.

The final concert in the 2010 series take place on Friday November 26th with a piano recital by talented Chinese pianist Chen Chen in a programme of music by Schubert, Liszt and the suite from Stravinsky's popular ballet Petrushka.

Full details can be found on the Society website www.classicalmusickidderminster.org.uk