THE musical offerings proffered by the Kendal Midday Concert Club have long been of remarkably high quality, and none more so than those of this season.

William Stafford, a balletic, young, emerging clarinettist recently graced the town hall’s far-from-glamorous stage to present a wide-ranging programme and charm his appreciative audience.

His partner, Hiroaki Tackenouchi (another fine accompanist in the long line of those unsung heroes attracted to the club), enriched the performances in magnificent fashion; throughout he was the most attentive of accomplices, matching in almost every bar the superb musicianship of his colleague.

Together they captured the essential Gaelic piquancy of substantial works by Poulenc, Pierné and Massager: there were stunning technical fireworks, of course, but so much more – beautiful tonal colours, sensational command of dynamic extremes, spacious, musicianly phrasing.

English composers (Edwin Roxburgh and the undeservedly-neglected John Ireland) were performed with equal devotion and awareness of stylistic demands.

Both artists, to an extraordinary degree, focused on the smallest and most subtle of details as well as being convincingly true to the overall architecture of the music.

This was a memorable recital – and there will be many more to follow, I’m certain.