In Benjamin Grosvenor we have a pianist blessed not only with a prodigious technique, but also with a huge depth of musicianship and intellect – and this from a young man who celebrated his 18th birthday only last Saturday, delighting a packed Malvern audience.

This was a largely Chopin recital (Scherzi, Nocturnes and the Barcarolle), beautifully coloured and sensitively pedalled (Malvern’s newly-installed Yamaha grand really delivering the goods).

Grosvenor has all the filigree and fioriture under his young fingertips, as well as the ability to deliver singing melodies from his left-hand thumb, balancing the textures so adroitly.

His programme was framed by Gershwin (the Rhapsody in Blue dark and chocolatey in tone on this responsive instrument) and Ravel’s hugely demanding, Lisztian, Gaspard de la Nuit, hypnotically despatched by this young man who promises so much.

And, in my experience, there is sensibly no Beethoven from him yet. When that eventually arrives, then listen out.

Rating: 5/5