A stupendous performance by soloist Lambis Vassiliadis inspired a break of concert convention by an enthralled Dome audience.

Vassiliadis distilled in captivating fashion the very soul of Chopin’s lyricism and energy from his first note of the composer’s Second Piano Concerto, and a lot of admirers could not resist clapping between movements.

While sensitive down to his lightning fingertips to Chopin’s beautiful melodies, the passion poured from the keys on faster passages as Vassiliadis seemed to use his blurred right hand like Eric Clapton on soaring lead guitar and his riveting left like a one-man rhythm section.

He capped this sublime playing by sizzling into the Liszt paraphrase of Bellini's tragic opera Norma as an encore.

Similar applause greeted the superb orchestra for the beautifully played first movement of Dvorak’s uplifting Eighth Symphony.

Excellence was maintained throughout as charming woodwind brought out the folk dance feel. Punchy brass brought out the drama, lightened by some fine flute playing.

In Humperdinck’s Hansel And Gretel Prelude, debut conductor Rory Macdonald kept the lovely slow opening hymn, with plaintiff horn hovering beautifully over soothing strings, moving nicely. Trumpets later took their fanfares with aplomb as the pace picked up, ending in tranquillity.