{TABLE} Partita No 2 in D minor ..................... Bach Sonata No 9 in A major Op 47 "Kreutzer" ..... Beethoven Sonata for solo violin ...................... Prokofiev Jota Navarra ................................ Sarasate Introduccion y taranantella ................. Sarasate Arias Gitanas ............................... Sarasate {/TABLE} RUGGIERO Ricci made his debut in 1928. When a player has been performing for 68 years, one hopes he will bring the accumulated maturity of that experience to his playing, but one is also prepared to make allowances for the passage of time. In the first half of this concert, the allowances one had to make were rather considerable; Ricci Bach was unerringly rhythmical, but one could not pretend that his left hand technique was what it had been a few decades ago. In the Kieutzer, the polish of Daniel Adni's playing oily pointed up the deficiencies in Ricci's intonation and tone production, even though his bowing in the quicksilver final movement, was as mercurial as ever.

But Ricci revived for the second half. Prokofiev's taxing solo sonata from 1947 was played not only with much greater assurance and tone, but also with a sense of fun. Ever since the war years, when he often had to appear without an accompanist, Ricci has made a speciality of solo pieces, and the sound of his violin bloomed in the friendly acoustics of St Columb's Cathedral.

This sonata has to sound as easygoing as the Sarasate trifles which followed it.

The recital culminated with Sarasate's corny but lovable Arias Gitanas, better known as Ziguenerweisen. Here Ricci's playing reminded one of Sarasate's own recorded on a few primitive 78s in 1903, slender in tone, uncertain of intonation in double stopping, but of undiminished, agility. We are told that Ricci has made 6 CDs in the last three years - long may he continue!