THE OPENING of the Bradford venue’s One Night Only was a real treat, a Chopin recital by Lucy Parham within a dramatic setting of the great composer’s life by the actress Patricia Hodge and actor Henry Goodman.

It was an unusual format, the idea of the pianist also wrote the script.

The adventure was rewarded with a good-sized audience which might otherwise have jibbed at a straightforward recital of classical music.

Most composers have lived lives of dramatic interest and Chopin was no exception, as the script made abundantly clear, but the words could not match the beauty and drama of the music.

The evening’s star was questionably Lucy Parham, who, seated at the grand piano, delivered a fulsome program of two nocturnes, waltzes, mazurkas, preludes, a polonaise and etude, and the thrilling Ballades numbers 3 and 4.

*Classical music continues at St George’s Hall with tomorrow’s opening of Bradford’s International Concert Season, The Halle playing a selection of definitive masterpieces by Prokofiev, Mozart and Mussorgsky.The conductor will be Hannu Lintu and the piano soloist will be Christian Ihle Hadland.

Jaleo Flamenco return to St George’s Hall on Wednesday with A Compas, described sent to the confusion on vocals, exposes work to set up playing.

Aled Jones will perform Songs Of Hope And Inspiration on October 3, presenting songs and stories from his time in the public eye, and accompanied by world-class musicians. The concert season continues on October 10, with the Russian State Philharmonic playing Rachmaninov’s mighty third Piano Concerto, along with pieces by Tchaikovsky. Call 01274 432000 or visit bradfordtheatres.co.uk to book tickets.

John Pettitt