The Sentinel                               Eric Snape

Hanley's Victoria Hall had one of its special nights last night, one that will be talked about for years to come.

The occasion was the launch of the 2005-06 Stoke-on-Trent Festival series of orchestral concerts, with Gianandrea Noseda conducting the BBC Philharmonic in a programme of Russian music.

And the star of the show was the Czech pianistic prodigy Lukas Vondracek,19 this month and obviously bound for world fame. Almost literally, the stamping of approval that greeted his performance nearly brought the house down.

Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No 1 in B flat minor is arguably the most popular of all piano concertos, though the purists have always faulted it structurally because of the huge tune that opens the first movement and never returns. Such qualms, however, were forgotten the instant young Vondracek - clad all in black - hit the keys with astonishing force and dynamism.

All the tonal instabilities and high drama of that famous opening were exploited for all they were worth, while the simple melody and swift waltz theme of the Andantino, and the vivid rondo of the Finale, were equally effective in prolonging the audience's adrenalin flow.

Noseda, leaping about on the rostrum, and his orchestra joined joyfully in the musical panoramic sweep, and the applause at the end was so wild that - unusually for The Victoria Hall - Lukas returned for a solo encore.

It was a piece by his fellow countryman, Smetana, one of his Czech Dances, and it received the same exciting, individualistic treatment as the concerto.

Vondracek returns to Hanley next March for the last of the Piano Passions 06 recitals at The Forum Theatre in The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery. Book now to avoid disappointment.

Last night's concert was full of the most gorgeous and heart-rending lyricism and sent everybody home happy, despite the pouring rain.