AS I aquaplaned home after Kendal Midday Concert Club's recital I was mentally scouring my Thesaurus for a range of suitable adjectives that could be used to describe my recent experience. But then I quickly realised that one alone would suffice superlative.

Three young Japanese sisters Arisa (violin), Honoko (cello) and Megumi (piano) the Fujita Piano Trio entranced their audience by the sheer, utter musicality of their playing. They were a visual delight, too, dressed prettily and elegantly in oriental pastel shades and playing throughout from memory. These features gave an extra dimension to their performance, particularly the latter, because each player was able to devote her entire attention to musical matters.

The result - perfect unanimity in the Mozart (Trio in C, K.548), the Beethoven (the Archduke Trio, Op.97) and the encore (Frank Bridge's Allegretto).

Each sister possesses an awesome technique. Arisa projects a most lovely warm tone, has a refined sense of phrase-shape and meticulously equates her tone quality with that of the cello. Honoko, likewise, is fastidious in her search for seductive tone, both as accompanist and melodist and possesses an exquisite sense of line. Megumi is a mistress of chord balance, has a wonderful cantabile', superb control of ornaments, trills and tremolos and places every note with a loving care.

They all understand the supreme importance of dynamic contrast and, most importantly, they all thoroughly understand the nature of their repertoire.

Brian Paynes